This blog explores the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of total health with some children's stories thrown in to break the intensity.

Archive for the ‘Nutrition’ Category

Improving Your Family’s Diet- or the Bad Effects of Sugar


The following talk was given to a MOPS group on 4/25/12 by Kathy McLaughlin.  Please comment or ask questions under “comments”.

My background includes practice as a physical therapist, as an organic gardener selling produce in a coop, a raw goat milk farmer selling jugs of raw milk from our farm, and a nutrition junkie.  I love learning about nutrition.  I also have a daughter in law who is a nutritionist who delights in teaching me.  My other training which you may see hints of is in prayer ministry.  I have been through years of training in helping people this way.

My interest in healthy diets ramped up drastically about 5 years ago when I first was diagnosed with breast cancer.  A second cancer then a diagnosis of Non Hodgkins lymphoma kept me on the fast track to learning how to care better for my body.  I generally restrain myself in talking about these thing until I see that someone is interested.  It is my hope, that you are interested in getting your little people off to a healthy start in good body maintenance.

Before I start, lets just get it out there that I am not perfect in keeping sugar completely out of my diet.  This purpose of this talk is not to add another thing into your life to feel guilty about.  It is really to help you think outside the box with your family’s diet.

Another important point to emphasize, right off the bat, is that diet is not our healer–God is.  The Lord designed our bodies to self repair. He also gave us the proper fuel for our bodies–food in its purest and least adulterated state.

As Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine, said, “Let food be your medicine…”  Food is not only a perfectly designed fuel, it is also an aid to recovery when the body is functioning at less than optimal.  Yet, in its most manipulated forms, food can become a deterrent instead of an aid to health.  Specifically, processed sugar in its many forms can be damaging to our bodies.  I have heard it said that sugar is more addictive than cocaine.  I don’t know if I believe that, however, I do believe that it is extremely addictive. Think yourself of the bad habit of sweets.  You eat some then that craving keeps persisting.  The only thing to do about it in my experience is to keep those foods away from me.  After about 2 weeks the craving grows less.

I want to tell 2 amazing stories of personal acquaintances.  The first was of my great uncle.  At almost 90, his much younger wife talked him into cutting all added sugar out of his diet.  He was in a wheelchair, unable to walk or do much self care.  After stopping sugar, he walked again and regained much function.  Both he and his wife gave credit to the change in diet as well as to God’s mercy.

The second tale is of a friend of mine who fell on ice a few years back.  She was badly hurt, unable to walk or do anything without major pain.  She started seeing a chiropractor.  She says the the most important thing he did for her was to educate her about sugar.  She stopped sugar and has a new beauty, vitality and no pain.  Everyone notices the change in her–it is quite dramatic.

In the past 20 years, average sugar consumption has increased from 26 pounds per person to 135 pounds.  Along with that increase, diseases which were rare have become common place like heart disease, diabetes, cancer,arthritis as well as many other degenerative diseases.  Is there possibly a connection to proliferation of these diseases and our dramatic increase in sugar consumption?

What is it about sugar that is so bad for us when glucose provides energy for the body?  Isn’t sugar just fancy glucose–aren’t all sugars eventually broken down into glucose which our body needs?    Let’s have a “Sugar 101” class going back to the basics.

There are 3 categories to what we eat in the way of plant and animal based foods–fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.  Fats become fatty acids after the digestive process; proteins are broken down into amino acids; and carbs are turned into glucose.  In the metabolization of all 3 categories of food, energy is produced for the body.

Foods with carbohydrates have been categorized by glycemic index and glycemic load.  GI measures the increase in blood sugar from 50g of carbohydrates from that food. For example, 50g of carbohydrates from carrots is about a pound of carrots. A snickers bar is 63 g of carbs.  GL takes into account the serving size and therefore the fat and protein in the food as well. It is a much better predictor of blood sugar response. High GL is >=20, Medium is between 11 to 19, Low is <=10. The lower the glycemic index or load–the longer it takes the body to break down that food into glucose.  Conversely, a food with a high glycemic index is quickly turned into glucose.

Straight glucose is a value of 100. Table sugar is sucrose, a simple sugar easily and quickly converted to glucose, so it is relatively high in glycemic index about 64. In basic terms, simple sugars and carbs like processed sugar and grains are very high on the glycemic index.  If you add fiber to those sugars, the glycemic index number goes down.  Add proteins and fats and it goes down even more.  The GL would reflect all of these factors.

Vegetables and fruits are generally low, processed grains and cereals are generally high, whole grains are generally low or medium. There are notable exceptions to these statements.  Potatoes, corn, and  parsnips are high.  Bananas and some sweeter fruits are medium.  This website will give you both the GI and the GL values: http://www.glycemicindex.com/foodSearch.php

Potato  104      36.4

Glucose  100

Parsnips  97 11.6

White bread 70 8.4

Wheat bread 70 7.7

Sweet potato 51 12.4

Banana  51 12.2

Dairy 40-50 6 -10

Apple 39 6.2

Spinach, Broccoli, Green beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower

0-6 0-6

Meats and most nuts 0 except cashews

High glycemic foods encompass simple sugars including honey, maple syrup, fructose, table sugar, agave sweetener, and any number of sugars ending in “ose” (like maltose, dextrose, etc.)  Here is a partial list of sugar in its many disguises.  You are probably  a label reader already.  Add these words to your label reading vocabulary.  High fructose foods like high fructose corn syrup are even more damaging because fructose is processed in the liver and excesses are converted to triglycerides.

Agave Nectar

Barley Malt Syrup

Corn sweetener

Corn syrup, or corn syrup solids

Dehydrated Cane Juice

Dextrin

Dextrose

Fructose

Fruit juice concentrate

Glucose

High-fructose corn syrup

Honey

Invert sugar

Lactose

Maltodextrin

Malt syrup

Maltose

Maple syrup

Molasses

Raw sugar

Rice Syrup

Saccharose

Sorghum or sorghum syrup

Sucrose

Syrup

Treacle

Turbinado Sugar

Xylose

Sugar acts differently within a food like a fruit or vegetable. God made fruits and veggies with the right amount of fiber so that when the bonds of the molecules are broken down into their components, the fiber in the food makes the breaking down process take longer.  Then the glucose is released into the body more gradually.  The load on the pancreas is less.  The body does not have the highs and lows like it does with simple sugars.

What does this mean in practical terms?  We have all felt sugar highs and the aftermath of extreme fatigue which follows.  We have seen kids act out when they have overloaded on candy.  We know how miserable we feel when we have gorged on sweets.  Does sugar do more serious harm than these obvious effects?   ( Draw graph )

Here is an example of one of our family’s early experiences related to sugar.  Our oldest son had a genetic weakness for chocolate inherited from his mom.  As a young boy visiting his granddad, he was indulged in this weakness.  Every visit, his grandpa would make him fudge.  Inevitably a horrible nosebleed would immediately follow.  We finally made the connection between high sugar foods and his nosebleeds.

When there are large amounts of sugar in the blood, it results in what is called glycation.  The glucose end products attach to proteins.  Glycation damages whatever it attaches to.  This may be blood vessels or organs.  It can do much damage by damaging the blood supply to organs like the kidneys or even to the eyes.  It hastens aging and causes many serious problems.  We all need to know that glycation causes our skin to sag faster.  It causes the collagen fibers to become less elastic, thereby causing faster aging.

Definitively these following disorders are caused or worsened by high sugar diets:

Yeast infections, fungal infections, gut dysbiosis (imbalance of the good and bad flora or microorganisms living in the gut), diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity and obesity related diseases.

Here are some of the diseases to which sugar-laden foods almost certainly contribute:

Arthritis, inflammatory diseases, degenerative diseases, cancer, behavioral disorders, and gut disorders

How is this possible?

Lets start with proven facts then meander into theory.  In simple terms, sugar feeds yeast and fungi.  We have all heard of candida albicans.   That is the typical yeast infection which many women get vaginally.  It is also the cause of “thrush” which many babies get in their mouths and throats.  Candida and many other harmful organisms are fed by sugar-rich foods.  These bad bacteria overrun the organisms meant to inhabit the gut which aid in the digestion and break-down process.  The resulting imbalance is called dysbiosis.

It could be said good health starts in the gut.  The opposite is also true.  When dysbiosis occurs it leads to a domino effect.  When there is a predominance of bad microbes in the gut, bad health reigns.

Now we advance into theory territory–leaky gut syndrome.  The basis for this theory is the idea that damage to the intestines causes the permeability to increase because the openings that let the molecules move in and out become enlarged.

This allows larger molecules of incompletely digested food to move out as well as toxins and bacteria which should remain in or pass through as waste.  This is presumed to be the basis of many problems, such as allergies or autoimmune problems.

The solution for this problem is to repopulate the gut with good bacteria to create a healthy balance, to stop feeding the bad microorganisms, and to include lots of fiber in the diet.  A healing diet for the gut is a diet low in sugar, grains, processed food and very high in veggies and somewhat less in fruits.  Dairy and meat should be organic.

So, I am not going to tell you all of this without giving help in how to change your family’s diet.

Here are some great and easy foods to substitute for the snacks of processed or high sugar foods.

Cut up sweet potatoes

Apple slices with peanut or almond butter

Celery with peanut or almond butter

Red pepper slices (Any of these veggies are great with hummus)

Carrots

Sugar snap peas

Green beans

Raw asparagus shoots

Raw broccoli or cauliflower pieces

Flaxseed soda bread

Raw almonds

Raw pecans

Banana-peanut butter-egg pancakes

We had samples of some of these foods for our breakfast.  These are not typical breakfast foods so I really stretched you in your eating this morning.  When you eat these foods, savor the flavors and the sweetness.  If you let yourself, you can change your family’s palate to appreciate these.

The name of a great cookbook to cook in a low glycemic fashion is Internal Bliss.  The author never gives her name.  I have only found this cookbook online.  It is associated with the GAPS diet

Also a great breakfast is stir fried veggies with an egg on top.  It gives your kids nutrition and energy.  Another good one is Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes (with no grain).  Or try a nutrition packed smoothie.  There are recipes on my website–  healingdiscoveries.com

These are all easy to have ready in the frig or to toss in a bag to take with you for on-the- go snacks.

This is the key to changing your family’s diet.  Have satisfying and quickly available foods and healthy snacks available all the time.  And do not have processed, sugar filled foods anywhere in the house.

When we are dying for a sweet snack, apples and peanut butter usually do the trick, but if not then a peanut butter banana smoothie will help.

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie Recipe

1 banana                     

2 tablespoons organic no additives peanut butter

1 cup almond milk        

1/2 cup ice

Blend in blender until smooth 

We will make and have a sample of this today.

Here are four principles to finish up with for trying to eat well.  If it gets near you it will get in you.  So only bring healthy good foods into your home.

The second thing which is totally unrelated to sugar but related to the gift that I have for you is: If it gets on you, it gets in you.  (Give out gift of natural deodorant made from baking soda, arrowroot powder and cornstarch.)

And thirdly to keep this all in perspective, self control is a very good thing on cleaning up our diet, but ultimately it is most important cooperate with God to let him clean our hearts up.  Mat 15:10 – 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.  While we want to treat our bodies as God’s temples, ultimately it is our hearts that are most important.

The fourth principle is that just as food is medicine, the Bible is even more so.  We can devour the Bible as our healing medicine.  Prov 4:20-22 My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words.  Don’t lose sight of them.  Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.

I have no doubt of this truth whatsoever.  God has restored me with his word and his touch.

Father God,

Please help us in our quest to treat our bodies as your temples doing proper temple maintenance.  However, please go much deeper to our hearts and show us how to let you fill our hearts with your Holy Spirit so much that we clearly hear and obey you.  Let your word be our sustaining and healing food.  Help us to exercise wisdom and self control regarding our regular food.  Above all please let seeking to hear and follow you be our highest priority.

In Jesus name

Amen

 

Dr. Mercola on Sugar


Feeding Your Child Sugar Can Be a Highly Addictive Habit

American children are consuming about ten times as much sugar as they were a century ago, especially in the form of fructose (primarily in the form of high fructose corn syrup). Fructose is the average American‘s largest source of calories. This comes as no surprise, as it’s highly addictive. The prevalence of fructose in the Western diet is a very significant factor driving today’s obesity epidemic.

Much of the fructose in processed foods and beverages is in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

You’ll find high fructose corn syrup in an alarming number of everyday products—bread, salad dressing, pasta sauce, infant formula, and nearly all processed foods. In these highly concentrated, highly refined forms, fructose can have some very serious metabolic effects that wreak havoc on your body and make it difficult to escape the addictive cycle. Because it’s so energy-dense, putting HFCS in your body is like putting jet fuel into an automobile engine—you’ll burn it out.

When you consume something so high in sugar, your pancreas must secrete large amounts of insulin to bring down your bloodsugar level. And all of that sugar is turned into fat so it can be stored. Insulin is in fact a fat-producing hormone. But the problems from sugar don’t stop there.

 

Addictive and Toxic: Found in Bread, Pasta Sauce and Salad Dressing   Addictive and Toxic: Found in Bread, Pasta Sauce and Salad Dressing

Sugar is a drug. It causes a beta-endorphin rush in your brain, stimulating the production of morphine-like chemicals. When you’re feeling down or under stress, it’s natural to want to eat foods that lift your mood. Sugar fits the bill as a comfort food,” given its morphine-like physiological effects. And like any drug, your body can become habituated, meaning you will require more sugar over time to get the same sugar high.

Sugar is actually is similar to cocaine in many respects.

Both are highly refined, chemically manipulated agents that are derived from natural, harmless plants—it’s the extremely concentrated forms that are dangerous and addictive to your body. Cocaine is made from coca leaves, which are not in and of themselves harmful and have been used nutritionally for hundreds of years in South Americai. If you want to be healthy, you MUST take control of your sugar intake so that it doesn’t take control over you.

Hypertension (HIgh Blood Pressure) by Jennifer McLaughlin


Jennifer McLaughlin

Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a very common condition. In the United States, one in four adults are affected (Wang & Vasan, 2005). It is the leading cause of premature death among adults worldwide (Falkner, 2009) and the primary risk factor for both stroke and coronary heart failure (Bartholomy, 2008). The incidence of high blood pressure increases with age. However, even pediatric hypertension is on the rise (Falkner, 2009).

Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted by the blood against vessel walls, or simply, how hard the heart has to work to pump blood through the body. High blood pressure indicates an elevated workload on the heart and arteries. This, over time, weakens these vessles and may lead to potentially fatal cardiovascular disease, such as plaque build-up in arteries, aneurisms, stroke, heart attack, or congestive heart failure. Hypertension can also damage the kidneys and the retina of the eye leading to blindness (Bartholomy, 2008).

Hypertension is often called “the silent killer” because there are usually no symptoms associated with the condition. Because of this, health care providers routinely measure blood pressure with the hope of normalizing it before complications arise. Once recognized, high blood pressure can easily be monitored at a health care facility or at home.

Blood pressure measurement consists of systolic pressure (the force when the left ventricle is contracting) over diastolic pressure (the force when the heart is at rest). Normal adult blood pressure is 120 mmHg over 80 mmHg. An individual may be diagnosed with hypertension when blood pressure numbers consistently read 140 over 90, or higher. If only the systolic pressure number is elevated this is known as isolated systolic hypertension. When systolic pressure exceeds 158, the probability of cardiovascular disease doubles regardless of diastolic pressure (Bartholomy, 2008). Blood pressure readings that fall between normal and hypertensive are considered pre-hypertension.

There are two types of hypertension: primary and secondary. Secondary hypertension is caused by another condition or medication such as kidney damage, endocrine dysfunction, oral contraceptive, or hormone replacement therapy. However, in 85 to 90 percent of the cases, the cause of hypertension is unknown and is considered primary hypertension.

Although the causes of primary hypertension are unknown, there are many predisposing lifestyle and dietary factors that are known to precipitate the condition.

  • Oxidative stress describes an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant defense mechanisms. ROSs cause structural and functional damage to endothelial cells, create oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, promote the increase of blood sugar and insulin, and degrades the vasodilator nitric oxide. Hypertensive individuals not only have an impaired antioxidant defense mechanism, but they also have a strong response to oxidative stress. (Houston, 2009).
  • Stress causes an increase in free radical activity and cortisol. Cortisol then raises blood pressure and blood sugar and depletes magnesium and potassium, which are necessary to maintain normal blood pressure.
  • Nutrient deficiency or excess can impact blood pressure. For example, high sodium and low potassium consumption work together to increase blood pressure. These imbalances will be explored further in the holistic health supportive protocol.
  • Many hypertensive individuals are insulin resistant and therefore have high serum insulin, which is vasoconstrictive.
  • Obesity adds to the work required of the heart. This extra strain on the heart increases blood pressure.
  • A sedentary lifestyle, even without obesity, can increase insulin resistance and stress, thus increasing risk of hypertension.
  • Heavy metal toxicity (especially cadmium and lead) can play a role in high blood pressure.
  • Smoking increases cadmium and cortisol levels while decreasing vitamins C and B and increasing oxidative stress.

Treatment Plan

The goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure and this can usually be done with a combination of medication, diet, and lifestyle changes. Although allopathic medicine recognizes the impact of nutrition and lifestyle on hypertension, these practitioners usually rely heavily on medication to normalize blood pressure. Holistic practitioners prefer to focus on dietary and lifestyle changes, adding medications in smaller dosages and only when necessary. Many individuals can control blood pressure through diet and lifestyle changes alone, but antihypertensive drugs may be necessary for some, especially those with complications (Houston, 2009). Practitioners may use one or more of the following blood pressure medications (A.D.A.M, 2011).

  • Diuretics help kidneys remove sodium from the body.
  • Beta-blockers decrease the rate and force of the heart.
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) relax blood vessels.
  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) relax blood vessels.
  • Calcium channel blockers relax blood vessels by blocking calcium from entering the cell.
  • Other medications that are not used as frequently include alpha-blockers, centrally acting drugs that signal the brain and nervous system to relax blood vessels, vasodilators, and renin inhibitors.

In addition to medication, the allopathic approach often includes daily exercise as well as dietary changes outlined in the DASH diet (dashdiet.org). This diet has a strong emphasis on whole grains, low-fat foods, fruits, and vegetables. The following holistic protocol for hypertension differs from DASH in its inclusion of quality fats, reduced grain consumption, and specific anti-hypertensive foods and supplements.

Holistic health supportive protocol for hypertension

A holistic health protocol for hypertension begins with an assessment of current diet and

exercise regimen. A comprehensive cardiovascular assessment, an oxidative stress test,

and a kidney analysis may also be recommended. Current medications or conditions may affect nutrient digestion or absorption and should be considered as well.

A dietary plan will focus on nutrient rich whole foods with a strong emphasis on plant-based foods from organic sources. Many hypotensive individuals have poor digestion. And so, in addition to following these nutritional guidelines, it is important to take a deep breath and relax before eating. Hydrochloric acid tablets and digestive enzymes may also be considered.

Macronutrients

Protein should constitute about 30% of the diet. Appropriate protein foods include whole grains, legumes, nuts, wild caught fish, pastured chickens and their eggs, grass-fed beef, lamb, bison, and grass-fed dairy products. Soy is often suggested as healthy protein food, but individuals should be wary of the phytoestrogens in soy which can have harmful hormonal effects (Sinatra, 2003).

Fats should constitute about 30% of the diet, and should include mono-unsaturated fats, especially omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids (Bartholomy, 2009). Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are coldwater fish, fish oil, flax oil, and nuts. Extra virgin olive oil is a good source of omega-9 fatty acids. Saturated fat, found primarily in animal fats and coconut oil, should be about 30% of fat calories (Barton, 2008). Damaged or altered fats, including trans fats and refined oils, should be completely avoided.

Carbohydrates should constitute the remaining 40% of the diet and come primarily from fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Many individuals select grains to fulfill their recommended carbohydrate consumption. Although grains do contain valuable nutrients, they can be difficult to digest and the nutrients may not be accessible for absorption. Instead of grains, look to vegetables and fruit. Half of every meal and snack should be vegetables or fruit. Avoid refined sugars and refined grains completely.

Fiber has been shown to reduce blood pressure and the need for antihypertensive medications (Houston, 2009). At least 30 grams of fiber should be consumed daily. Most plant foods contain fiber: beans, greens, herbs, and berries are good sources.

Minerals

Sodium should be limited to that found naturally in whole foods and small amounts of unrefined salt. Salt sensitive individuals should see a reduction in blood pressure with a reduction in sodium consumption. These individuals should slowly reduce their sodium consumption to 1000 mg (Houston, 2009). Avoid white salt. All white salt has be processed even when labeled “sea salt.”

Potassium is a diuretic and vasodilator (Bartron, 2008) should be consumed at a 5:1 ratio with sodium. Potassium rich foods include all fruits and vegetables, especially dark leafy greens.

Magnesium is a vasodilator and is usually low in hypertensive individuals (Bartholomy, 2008). A dietary intake of 500 – 1000 mg/day has shown a reduction in blood pressure in epidemiologic, observational, and clinical studies (Houston, 2009). Foods rich in magnesium include green vegetables and herbs, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and nuts.

Calcium is also a vasodilator and should be consumed in a 2:1 ratio with magnesium. Dietary calcium has been shown to be more effective at lowering blood pressure than supplemental calcium. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products as well as green vegetables and herbs.

Vitamins and Supplements

Full spectrum antioxidants will help stop free radical damage. These can be consumed in food and taken as a supplement. Many of the following vitamins and supplements are antioxidants.

Vitamin A and beta-carotene are important for their antioxidant capabilities. Consume 10,000 IUs per day with no more than 2,500 IUs from preformed vitamin A (Sinatra, 2003). Food sources include good quality cod liver oil, liver, and all green and orange fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is also essential for tissue growth and repair, and plays a role in the absorption and utilization of calcium. Studies of supplemental vitamin C have demonstrated a reduction in blood pressure. Vitamin C is sensitive to air, water, and heat so the best food sources are fresh fruits and vegetables, especially  bell peppers, strawberries, papaya, and citrus fruits. Supplemental vitamin C should be limited to 500 mg (Sinatra, 2003).

Vitamin E contributes to cardiovascular health is several ways. It is an antioxidant, and anticoagulant, a plaque stabilizer, and a vasodilator. Almonds, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, and wheat germ oil are food sources of vitamin E but fall short of the recommended intake for supporting heart health. A supplement of 200 to 400 IUs per day in the form of mixed tocopherols is recommended (Sinatra, 2003).

Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10) not only supports the formation of ATP, which is the energy source for the cells in the body, but it also serves as an antioxidant. The heart consumes a huge amount of energy and therefore large amounts of CoQ10. Although the body can produce CoQ10, this ability declines with age. Dr. Sinatra (2003) recommends 60 to 120 mg of the hydrosoluble form taken in four to eight divided doses over the course of the day. Food sources include sardines, salmon, mackerel, heart, and liver.

L-Carnitine delivers fatty acids to heart cells for energy and removes waste products. It has a synergistic effect with CoQ10. 1000 to 2000 mg are recommended for lowering blood pressure (Sinatra, 2003). Red meat is the best food source of L-carnitine.

L-Arginine is an amino acid that enhances the synthesis of nitric oxide and reduces plaque buildup in vessels (Sinatra, 2003). Six to nine grams of nuts, seafood, eggs, or red meat, will satisfy the need for this nutrient, as will a 1000 mg supplement (Sinatra, 2003).

Hawthorn is an herb whose leaves, berries, and blossoms have antioxidant properties. Additionally, it increases coronary blood flow and decreases blood pressure. A 500 mg capsule can be taken two or three times a day, but check with a physician if antihypertensive medications are being taken (Sinatra, 2003).

Anti-hypertensive foods

Celery contains several components that may help reduce blood pressure: 3-n-butyl phthalide, apigenin, and potassium (Houston, 2009). Four stalks of celery or eight teaspoons of celery juice should be consumed daily to obtain these effects.

Garlic has been shown to reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 20 points when two to three raw cloves of garlic are consumed daily (Bartholomy, 2008).

Seaweed has been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure. In a Japanese study, participants consumed 3.3 g of dried wakame for four weeks and saw significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Houston, 2009).

Lifestyle

Stress management plays an important role in reducing blood pressure. By effectively managing stress, an individual can reduce cortisol production, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, and slow the creation of free radicals. Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and prayer are some of the ways to reduce stress.

Exercise is necessary to strengthen the heart, reduce excess weight, and can be a stress reliever as well. An exercise routine should include resistance training at least twice a week and 45 minutes of light to moderate aerobic activity at least 4 times a week.

Stop smoking and avoid caffeine. Both raise blood pressure and should be avoided.

Hypertension is most likely a modern condition born from a processed foods/high sugar diet and sedentary/high stress lifestyle. It is unfortunate that the effects of today’s world and culture sneak up on us so quietly. Perhaps if the consequences of our actions were more immediately noticeable, we would be more likely to correct them before so much damage has been done.

References

A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. (2011).  Hypertension. Retrieved January 4, 2012 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001502/

A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. (2011). High blood pressure medications. Retrieved January 4, 2012 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0010384/

Bartholomy, Paula. (2008). MSHN 213 – Cardiovascular Nutrition [lecture transcripts]. Retrieved December 15, 2011, from https://student.hawthornuniversity.org/Course_AudioLectureList.aspx

Bartron, Laura. (2008). Key nutrients for lowering blood pressure. Retrieved January 11, 2012, from https://student.hawthornuniversity.org/Course_ReadingMaterialDetails.aspx?id=105

Falkner, B. (2010). Hypertension in children and adolescents: epidemiology and natural history [Electronic version]. Pediatric Nephrology, 25(7): 1219-1224.

Houston, M.C. (2009). Hypertension: Utilizing nutrition in treatment. In I. Kohlstadt (Ed.), Food and nutrients in disease managements (pp. 75-97). Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Sinatra, Stephen. (2003). Lower your blood pressure in eight weeks: a revolutionary program for a longer, healthier life. New York: Ballantine Books.

Wang, T.J. & Vasan, R.S. (2005). Contemporary reviews in cardiovascular medicine: epidemiology of uncontrolled hypertension in the United States. Circulation. Retrieved January 3, 2012, from http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/112/11/1651.full


Coffee and Chocolate


The following article is from Hacres.com, the website for Hallelujah Acres.  This vegetarian organization is a proponent of increasing raw in the diet; they wrote The Hallelujah Diet.  I am putting this in my blog as food for thought, not as absolute definitive truth.

 

The World’s Diet Is Dangerously High In Caffeine

For the past several weeks, we have been sharing the reasons why the ‘World’s Diet’ is such a dangerous diet.

In this Health Tip we are going to examine another substance that is addictive and extremely toxic to the body, just as we learned animal source foods, refined sugar, and refined grains are.

Additionally, this addictive and toxic substance (drug) is devoid of fiber, and contains no nutrition. Yet it is consumed by a high percentage of both children and adults if they consume the World’s Diet.

Caffeine is its name of this addictive and toxic substance.

It is a substance found in coffee, many teas, and most soft drinks.

Webster’s Dictionary defines “caffeine” as “a white crystalline, bitter alkaloid, C8H10N4O2, derived from coffee or tea, used medically as a stimulant.”

Another alkaloid that has a similar effect upon the body as caffeine is theobromine.

Theobromine is found in chocolate and is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “a crystalline alkaloid powder, C7H8N4O2 related to caffeine, obtained from the cacao bean and used chiefly in medicine as a diuretic and stimulant.”

You will notice that both “caffeine” and “theobromine” are defined as “alkaloids” along with being “stimulants” in Webster’s Dictionary. This is an important factor in our effort to learn more about these toxic substances.

Below, please note the bad company these stimulating alkaloids keep as Webster’s Dictionary defines “alkaloids”:

“Any of a large class of bitter tasting, nitrogen containing, alkaline ring compounds common in plants and including caffeine, theobromine, morphine C17, H19, N2, , nicotine C10, H14, N2, quinine C20, H24, N2, O2, and strychnine C21, H22, N2, NO2.”

But before we go any further, I need to lay a little biblical foundation for what will follow, so that we can better understand why “caffeine” and “theobromine” are so dangerous to the body:

The Bible Tells Us in Psalm 139:14

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

Truer words were never spoken! The physical body we each possess is “wonderfully made” (by God), and it is important that we realize the body we each possess is comprised of approximately 100 trillion living cells.

If we keep our bodily fluids purified and our cells free of toxic build-up, we will experience health.

If we fail to keep our bodily fluids purified and our cells free of toxic build-up, we get sick.

We keep our bodily fluids purified and our cells free of toxic build-up when we cease consuming toxic substances and start consuming the primarily raw, 100% plant based foods God designed our bodies to thrive on — especially when our diets include an abundance of raw vegetable juices and green smoothies.

If We Want To Promote Health and Avoid Disease

If we want to promote health and avoid disease, we must carefully avoid placing protoplasmic poisons into the body.

Yet, on a daily basis, the average person consuming the World’s Diet is placing protoplasmic poisons into their bodies, not realizing that every one of these poisons is a toxic drug that does great harm to the body!

These drugs may be in the form of caffeine, theobromine (a drug related to caffeine), inorganic sodium chloride (white table salt), refined sugar, alcohol, nicotine and other drugs derived from plants including but limited to marijuana, cocaine, heroin, along with doctor prescribed and over-the-counter drugs.

Not a single one of these substances are a food that will nourish the physical body.

They are all addictive drugs, that will poison the body.

Sadly, most of these drugs are socially accepted and even cherished, commercially advertised, some medically prescribed, and often government subsidized.

Caffeine Is a Drug

Coffee is the most popular and widely used stimulant in the world and coffee is the major source of caffeine.

Coffee is also the most popular beverage in the world, with tea and caffeinated soda coming in second and third place.

One cup of drip coffee contains 150 mg of caffeine; one cup of brewed black tea 50 mg of caffeine; and green tea, which is being so highly touted for its antioxidant properties, can contain as much caffeine as black tea. A 12-ounce can of caffeinated soft drink contains 50 mg of caffeine, and an 8-ounce bar of milk chocolate contains 50 mg of caffeine.

Raw Chocolate

While many realize the dangers inherent in the average commercial chocolate product, there is an organic, raw chocolate craze sweeping the raw food movement today, with some touting its benefits.

However, on closer examination we learn the following about raw organic chocolate:

The cacao bean, from which organic raw chocolate is made, contains: methylxanthines (a stimulating drug known as caffeine), theobromine, and theophyllin, (all of which are known to produce permanent degenerative alterations in cellular protoplasm). The cacao bean also contains more tannin than tea, plus oxalic acid, cannabinoids, and aflatoxins.

Dr. John McDougall Speaks On the Subject Of Caffeine

Following are a few quotes taken from Dr. John McDougall’s book “The McDougall Plan”:

(1) “Some of the most popular drugs consumed by people of affluent western nations are found in coffee beans, tea leaves, and cocoa beans (chocolate) . . . all of which contain a group of natural substances known as methylxanthines. These chemicals include caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine. Many prescription and nonprescription drugs also contain methylxanthines.

(2) “One of the most important of the methylxanthines is the popular drug ‘caffeine’. . . undesirable effects from the stimulating properties of caffeine include: elevated heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, frequent urination, increased gastric acid secretion (which contributes to indigestion, gastritis, and ulcers), nervousness, irritability, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea. Obviously, discontinuing caffeine will relieve the problems caused by this drug. It is particularly important for someone with hypertension who is trying to lower his or her blood pressure to stop drinking caffeinated beverages.

(3) “Caffeine has been shown to cause birth defects in animals and is suspected of causing the same defects in humans. It would follow that you should completely avoid coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate in all forms during pregnancy.

(4) “All three of the methylxanthines can stimulate growth of breast cells, causing painful enlargement of breast tissue and benign lumps. This condition is known as fibrocystic disease. . . In as many as 90 percent of women with fibrocystic disease, these benign breast lumps significantly improve or completely disappear in two to six months when methylxanthines are eliminated from the diet. There is also concern from investigators that the chronic stimulation of the breast tissue by methylxanthines may progress to cancer of the breast. Cancer of the bladder also has been related to caffeine use.

(5) “One more undesirable effect of caffeine is that the drug has been shown to cause loss of calcium from the body. Therefore, another dietary maneuver you can use to prevent and possibly correct thin, calcium-deficient bones, or osteoporosis, would be to discontinue use of caffeine.

(6) “The body actually becomes physically addicted to caffeine. When you attempt to quit taking this drug, expect withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, irritability, drowsiness, tension, and depression. Withdrawal symptoms can last as long as a week. ”

Dr. Russell Blaylock Speaks Out On The Subject Of Caffeine

In the November 2005 issue of Newsmax magazine Dr. Blaylock reports:

“Caffeine is considered to be the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world. In some ways it is acting like MDMA (Ecstasy) and cocaine. That is, it stimulates brain cells intensively . . . If you stop drinking caffeine you will notice two things right away: that you cannot stay awake and that you have a splitting headache . . . This is because the brain has turned down the sensitivity to caffeine so much that your brain is struggling to remain conscious. The headache is because of rebound dilation of the blood vessels in the scalp. . . Excessive caffeine has several dangers. With high consumption, one can have a sudden seizure or even abnormal heartbeats. On some occasions the abnormal heartbeats – called arrhythmias – can lead to sudden death, especially if your magnesium is low.”

More Adverse Effects Research Has Revealed

Caffeine stresses the nervous system, increases uric acid production and can lead to kidney damage. Researchers at Boston University Medical Center consider coffee intake to be associated with heart attacks and cancer, and when used with sugar becomes even more harmful.

“Coffee nerves” or “coffee jitters” can occur after 150 mg (1 cup) are ingested, while physiological and psychological dependence can occur at 300 mg/day (just 2 cups of coffee).

62% of Americans in a recent survey claimed they “. . . could not function . . .” without their daily coffee (caffeine) intake.

Children are far more susceptible to caffeine intoxication due to lighter body weight and comparative purity of physiology. Parents who wouldn’t dream of giving their children coffee are giving them the equivalent dose of caffeine every time they let them indulge in caffeinated soft drinks, cocoa, iced tea, and chocolate.

Most of the caffeine taken from coffee in the decaffeinization process is bought by the soft drink industry and added to sodas!

Caffeine intoxication is a form of severe poisoning that occurs at the cellular level when as little as 250 mg of caffeine is consumed in a day. This toxic stimulant may result in heart palpitations, stomach irritation, dizziness, muscle tension and trembling, insomnia, shortness of breath, diarrhea, ringing ears, lightheadedness, and headaches.

Caffeine first triggers an adrenalin release and then mimics the “fight-or-flight” response by stimulating the cardio-respiratory and central nervous systems. Every cell, organ, and system is affected by caffeine.

Caffeine increases blood pressure, causes irregular heart rate, and restricts brain blood flow. It is implicated in cardiovascular disease.

Six cups of coffee daily doubles heart attack risk.

Caffeine stimulates overproduction of gastric pepsin/hydrochloric acid, contributing to the formation of stomach ulcers.

Besides all of the above, caffeine can stimulate mental disorders with symptoms identical to “anxiety neurosis”: nervousness, irritability, self-consciousness, moodiness, and/or depression. Indeed, some people who suffer from mental disorders are undoubtedly “adding fuel to the fire” when they become caught in a vicious circle of caffeine use.

Caffeine is either the cause or a contributing cause of many of the physical and psychological problems being experienced today.

Please remember that caffeine and theobromine are addictive drugs! Along with animal source foods, refined sugar, refined grains, and table salt, these substances are the killer foods of our day — and the cause of most physical problems.

 

Detoxing the Body, Mind and Spirit


BODY

There are so many views by nutritional experts that it is a confusing subject.  I have studied different theories and diets in the past 5 years with an eye to healing my body of cancer.

I have discovered that while there are many differences in nutrition theories, there are also many common elements.  There are many benefits to incorporating good nutrition: better health, lower medical costs, increased mental concentration, more consistently high energy levels, less hyperactivity and improved behavior.

  1. Organic–grass-fed–pastured–local–non GMO (genetically modified organism): It is best to eat foods with the least possible amount of pesticides, chemicals, processing, and tampering (genetic modification).  The more organic, pastured, grass-fed, and process free food is–the better.   Some terms, like cage free and free-range, leave wiggle room.  What you want to ask is “Did this animal eat grass and bugs?”   Poultry and eggs from pastured chickens are especially important.    Except in seasons when there is no green grass outside, you will see a dramatic difference in pastured chicken eggs.  The yolks are very orange from pastured chickens.  These eggs are packed full of nutrients.  A local source for pastured chicken products is Prairie Crossings in Grayslake, IL.  Pastured foods (meats, eggs, dairy products) differ chemically from grain fed meats etc.  They are radically better for our bodies.  Animals store toxins in their fats which is marbled throughout the body.  Fats from grain fed animals store the pesticides used to treat the grain.  These meats are so unhealthy, whereas the fat from grass-fed animals is actually good for you.  As far as organic versus non-organic, it takes only minimal reasoning to know that organic food is better.  What goes on a plant goes into the plant then into us when we eat it.  Pesticides will not completely wash off produce. They are absorbed into plants just as our body absorbs a portion of the things we put on our skin. It may seem like bad economics to buy organic, grass-fed and pastured.  However, consider the alternative in higher medical costs and bad health.  Also, unprocessed foods are cheaper than processed. (By processed, I mean anything which changes food from it’s original garden-fresh state.)   Processing removes nutrients and adds toxins.  When you stay with organic and unprocessed versus non-organic and processed, you may find that the cost balances out.  The best source for garden foods is to raise them yourself.  Start converting your flower gardens.  We have started front and back yard veggie gardens and it is great fun–no complaints from the neighbors yet.  It is possible to make food gardens look quite lovely.  The second best source is local farmers.  Check out farmer’s markets.  They may or may not be good resources.  Ask specifics about how they raise their products to decide.  Third in line are dependable stores.  Whole Foods, Costco, Mariano’s, selective Kroger’s, and Giant Eagle stores have organic produce plus some organic and grass-fed meats and dairy products.  There is some question about fish being safe because of mercury levels, but it is best to eat cold water, smaller fish wild caught from places like Alaska, or Norway.  A good source is http://www.vitalchoice.com/newsletter_index2.cfm
  2. Include Raw.  It is good to add raw produce into our diets at least to the level that it comprises at least 1/3 of our total diet.  This can be fresh fruits and veggies, smoothies, or even cooked or dehydrated foods if they are cooked below 105 degrees. Raw foods have more vitamins, and live enzymes.  Frozen foods lose some vitamins but they are still better than canned.  If you are in a rush, give your child frozen veggies–they thaw almost immediately in warm water.  You don’t even have to cook them. They make great finger food, and kids enjoy them if their palates are not spoiled by sugar and processed foods.  There may need to be a re-education process of your whole family’s palates, if they have some bad food habits.  The pain of withdrawal and change is well worth it in the long run.  My experience is that it takes 2 weeks of misery to get over my addictions to sugar and processed food.
  3. Sprout.  Sprouted seeds and nuts have more nutrition than non-sprouted.  Soaking and sprouting also provide fresh greens especially  in winter. Sprouted foods are delicious,  Here is a website on how to sprout.  http://www.raw-food-diet-magazine.com/how-to-sprout-seeds.html  E-Z Sprouter is the product I use to sprout.  I looked on Amazon for the cheapest price and copied the website:  http://www.amazon.com/Sproutamo-Easy-Sprout-Sprouter/dp/B000GHUD86  This one is $14.50.
  4. Look for food intolerances.  I eliminated dairy from my diet and feel that it would be beneficial for many people.  Certainly non-organic milk is loaded with horrible things including hormones, chemicals, antibiotics and more.  Of course, that carries over to cottage cheese, butter, and cheese.  Ideally, if one wanted to use dairy products, the closest to mother’s milk is organic goat’s milk.  In an earlier time and place, we had a herd of dairy goats.  We gave our sons raw goat milk because they had obvious and severe cow milk allergies.  We also had grass-fed cows for beef and organic gardens before they were dubbed with those terms.  Besides dairy there are many common intolerances.  Gluten is another common intolerance.  There are many others.  You can check out an elimination diet to help with this: http://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/file/11270/handout_elimination_diet_patient.pdf
  5. Veg out.  Many agree that veggies should be the staple of most people’s diet.    It is easy to cut up a sweet potato or raw red peppers.  Kids love these–so do adults.  Or throw in some organic carrots or celery for a road trip.  Everyone needs a minimum amount of protein and fat. This cannot be ignored, especially in children.  However too much meat in a diet is not a good thing either.  There must be balance.
  6. Reduce sugar.  Refined sugar, white flour and processed fructose in a diet beat up the pancreas. They contribute greatly to obesity.  They cause spikes and plummets in blood sugar levels. Keep in mind that if you or your family have blood sugar level problems, these other foods may need to be eaten more sparingly also.  Grains, when digested, also become sugar in the body.  Even whole grains, while giving good nutritional elements, can contribute to high sugar levels.  Beans, except lima beans, break down into sugar.  Potatoes produce spikes in blood sugar levels also. Fruits, especially sweeter ones like bananas must be eaten with moderation also, as they can cause sugar levels to increase.  However, these things are much easier on the body than refined sugar, fructose and white flour.  In a whole different category, soda is not only harmful in the ridiculous amounts of sugar it contains, it is also harmful in the many chemicals and carbonation.  (Soda pop should be the very first thing to go in our family’s diets.)  In many people, overconsumption of  sugary foods cause the blood sugar levels to fluctuate between too little sugar in the blood to too much sugar in the blood.  Eventually the body can develop insulin resistance, then pre-diabetes, then diabetes.  In families with genetic predisposition, mindfulness is even more necessary.  Blood sugar related diseases are at epidemic proportions in America now.  These diseases include diabetes, yeast and many fungal infections, and secondarily many other ailments.  Even in children, these conditions are increasing.  A great cookbook for the whole family is Internal Bliss. It gives recipes that foster health by lowering sugar.  By lowering sugar, you will eliminate the hyper periods your kids get from sugar highs.  No longer will your kids have the dramatic energy drops when their blood sugar crashes down after a sugar high.  You will have kids who are healthier hence fewer doctor visits and sick days.  Your family’s concentration level will also drastically increase.  I have read that sugar is more addictive than cocaine.  Determine to hang in for the long haul on conquering sugar’s hold.  It will be a battle.  Work on it a little at a time.  First eliminate sodas and store bought juices.  Pasteurized juices are high in sugar and have many of the nutrients destroyed by pasteurization.  Just give your kids organic milk or filtered water.  Next remove all desserts as we typically think of them and replace them with fruit.  Next change processed and sugary snacks to fruits / veggies/ dried fruits and veggies/ nuts and seeds.  Replace cereal breakfasts with pastured eggs and veggies.  Throw in occasional banana peanut butter “pancakes” and or fresh smoothies from veggies and fruit.
  7. Eat in a probiotic way.  Many people are overrun by candida (yeast) and harmful bacteria because of the standard American diet (SAD).  Diets need to promote starving these bad bacteria and feeding the good bacteria.  There is a whole science to this–a diet focused upon creating good flora balance in the gut is called Probiotic.  Starving the bad bacteria is promoted with low sugar diets such as the diet in the cookbook Internal Bliss.    The second component of this and similar diets is feeding the good bacteria which aid in digestion.  This is done by eating pro-biotic food and supplements.  Pro-biotic food is fermented allowing the good bacteria to proliferate.  Sauerkraut and yogurt are familiar to us all.  There are many more like Kimchi, Kombucha, Kefir, Miso, Dill Pickles and Tempeh.  However, one cannot just run to the typical grocery store for these.  Many at the grocery store are loaded with sugar, or are an imitation made with vinegar rather than true fermentation.  You can either make your own or find a source such as Bubbie’s brand and King’s brands.  These can be found at Whole Foods.  Other stores such as Jewel will often special order these upon request.  If you are interested in making your own a good website that I found is http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/06/baby-steps-eating-cultured-and-fermented-foods.html.
  8. Filter your water.  Unfiltered water can be another source of toxins.  Put a filter on your kitchen faucet.  Ideal is to have one that filters out bacteria, chemicals and chlorine. A great website to keep up on tests of your city’s water is EWG.com. They also give test results on produce to buy organic and non-organic based on testing for pesticides.  They tell which make up, baby products, sunscreens etc are the safest.  If you want to take detoxing a step further, install a filter on your shower to take out the chlorine that would be absorbed through the skin.
  9. Exercise.  Another great way of detoxing is exercise.  I find the best way to exercise is to multitask.  It makes exercise more interesting.  Walk with a friend.  Do the treadmill or Nordictrak while praying.  Do a quick set of weights to maintain strength while listening to praise music.  Don’t forget energetic dancing with the kids or grandkids to upbeat or worship music. This detoxes body and spirit in one fell swoop.
  10. Vitamin D  Especially in the north, we are all deficient in vitamin D because we do not get enough sun.  A great way to get vitamin D into ourselves and our family is cod liver oil.  It is best when from Alaska or Norway.  Fish from there contains less toxins as well as containing more good fats.
  11. Use safe cleaners etc.  Using natural skin and cleaning products is another way of detoxing.    Vinegar, peroxide, borax and baking soda all make great cleaning products.  Vinegar is antibacterial and antifungal.  Peroxide kills germs without harm to people in your house.  Borax is a powerful cleanser but is much safer than detergents.  Baking soda is a good scrubbing agent and neutralizes odors. Norwex cleaning cloths are a good product to clean without any chemicals.  I have been using them for washing my body and I am having much fewer problems with dry skin. For dry skin, I use coconut oil or rose hips oil.  I use jojoba oil as a hair conditioner.  I use just a drop or two spread on my hands then on damp hair before I dry it. Petroleum based products like baby oil and many ingredients in make up, shampoos, conditioners, sunscreens, moisturizer, as well as most cleaning products contain toxic ingredients.  We can save money and decrease toxins in our homes by making our own.  It is very simple and fast.  I buy the gallon plus bottle of white vinegar at Costco, as well as their largest peroxide and baking soda.  Borax also is very cheap.  I just save my old soap and shampoo bottles to make these.  I bought a few new spray bottles so that I would not have chemical residue contaminating my homemade cleaning supplies for my kitchen and my body.  These homemade products are  not only easy and safe–they are much less expensive.
  12. Gadgets that help.  I have gone through many kitchen gadgets and experimentations in making a healthy yet easy-to-do diet.  I am so not a cook.  I started juicing raw veggies and fruits after my first cancer.  Freshly made juices are beneficial because they are loaded in concentrated nutrients and are easy for the body to digest. If you get a juicer I recommend the Breville Juice Fountain.  I have gotten years of hard use out of mine.  You can find it at Bed Bath and Beyond or online.  However, I have had problems with extracted fresh juices as they are more concentrated in sugars than whole fruits and veggies (even though the sugars are natural sugars).  I have finally gravitated towards making whole juices.  I use an expensive gadget called Blendtec.  It can be purchased online or at Costco.  I use it many times a day.  It will grind grains, even flaxseed which most grinders will not.  Additionally, it will grind coffee beans.  One can make smoothies, whole juices, soups, sauces, ice creams and sorbet in minutes.  The cookbook that came with it is not super healthy or helpful, but I am gradually making a retinue of recipes which I will put in my blog (healingdiscoveries.com) gradually.  Another gadget that makes my life easier is The Vidalia Onion Chopper.  I got mine at Bed Bath and Beyond.  It is $20 and you can always use coupons.  It sounds superfluous but it makes salad and veggie prep fast and easy, and it is a cheap tool.

MIND

  1. Eliminate the toxins.  I have found that nourishing the mind is similar to feeding the body.  If you put good quality in, it functions much better.  This really eliminates most of TV and much reading material.  One needs to be as selective in feeding and exercising the mind as the body.  This includes toxic thoughts and words.  One cannot help what passes through the mind, but there is always a choice on what planes you allow to land in your airport of a mind.
  2. Feed the brain good food.  The Bible is the best food to feed the brain on planet earth.  It makes wise the simple, it is living and active and transforms in a really good way.  Of course, it can be abused and misinterpreted, but that does not detract from the absolute goodness and power of The Book when used in conjunction with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.  I recommend an easy to read translation like the NIV or NLT.  The Message is great for just reading.
  3. Exercise the brain.  I love to do online scrabble to challenge my brain.  It is like any other part of the body.  It needs to be pushed to work its best.

SPIRIT

Honor, give, forgive.  The best way to detox the spirit is honoring, giving and forgiving.  The Bible says that as we give, we will receive; as we judge we will be judged; and as we forgive, we will be forgiven.

You could restate all of this as an inverse golden rule.  As you do to others it will be done to you.

I think if any of these 3 things were easy, then we would all live in peace and harmony in a loving world.  The truth is that these things have a supernatural component.  God must help us.

Firstly, true honoring is seeing someone as God sees him and treating him or her as a true child of God (as a brother or sister that we cherish).  Everyone is to be honored.  It is not a treatment that Is to be earned.  To see people through God’s eyes, we must have the Holy Spirit within us.  This means that we must have accepted the payment that Jesus made for us on the cross and have given him reign in our hearts.

Next, giving can be motivated from many directions.  Only one type of giving makes a lasting difference.  Again, that is the giving led by the Holy Spirit.  Wrong giving can enable, stop personal growth, or interfere with God’s loving processes.  When giving is guided by the Holy Spirit, it accomplishes God’s purposes.

And lastly, forgiveness is the heart of the Bible’s message.  God made it clear that forgiveness is not optional.  Yet, forgiveness is a losing battle unless we enlist God’s help.  We think an offense is long gone only to discover dregs of bitterness in our hearts.  If we recognize repeated bad fruit in our life, often the source of this is unforgiveness, resentment or bitterness lodged in our hearts.  In actuality, we often cannot see the bad fruit in our own lives.  It takes a bold, kind and honest loved one to point it out.

The best way to detox our spirit is prayer.  Pray for God to show us the root of the bad fruit.  Pray for forgiveness in the ways we have judged others (labeled them or put them in a box of our perceived limitations–failed to honor them).  Pray for God to give the gift of forgiveness to us in letting go of offenses and hurts to us.  Pray blessings upon the ones who hurt us.  Give restitution to the ones we have hurt.

Amazingly, one of the best sources for detoxing our spirits is right at our fingertips.  It is the Bible.  The Bible is most useful when it is interpreted to us by the Holy Spirit.  For a non-Christian reading the Bible is like reading history.  For one filled by the Holy Spirit, it is like reading God’s love letters, teachings and admonitions from someone who is speaking to me personally.

The most effective way I have found to detox body, mind and spirit is to hang out with God.  That means many different things–the Bible, dancing with him, talking to him, singing to him and I am sure that I will discover more as I hang around him.  This is something that I am just learning to do after many years of being a Christian in a very dry and rules-oriented way.  It is an adventure that I want to share with everyone.

Great Info for Holiday Cooking from EWG


Here is a reprint of holiday kitchen advice from Environmental Working Group.  They are a great research and activist organization striving to bring health and purity back into our food as well as other products.

Jane’s Holiday Kitchen

One of my favorite things about the Holidays, especially Thanksgiving, is spending time with my family — in the kitchen or around the table. If you’re looking for great new recipes to enliven your cooking, or as a gift for your friends and family, check out EWG’s 2011 Holiday Gift Bag. It includes Anna Getty’s Easy Green Organic Cookbook, a To-Go Ware Snack Stack and other great items to green your holiday kitchen. Click here to order one today (supplies are limited).As Senior Vice President for Research at EWG, I want to make it easy for you to prepare your holiday feasts with your family’s environmental health in mind. Just follow these simple tips as you shop, cook and eat together:

  1. CHOOSE FOOD LOW IN ADDED CHEMICALS AND POLLUTANTS
    Food can contain ingredients we don’twant to eat — from pesticides to hormones to artificial additives to food packaging chemicals. Some simple tips to cut the chemicals:

    • Buy organic when you can. I make sure fresh fruits and vegetables are on the menu, and I go organic when I can. Organic produce is grown without synthetic pesticides (I prefer my dinner without, thanks!). Organic meat and dairy products also limit your family’s exposure to growth hormones and antibiotics.
    • It’s OK to choose non-organic from our “Clean 15″ list of less-contaminated conventional fruits and vegetables, too. EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce ranks popular fruits and vegetables based on the amount of pesticide residues found on them. Check out our Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce (and get the iPhone App).
    • Cook with fresh foods, rather than packaged and canned, whenever you can. Food containers can leach packaging chemicals into food, including the synthetic estrogen bisphenol A that’s used to make the linings of food cans. Go for fresh food or prepared foods stored in glass containers. Pick recipes that call for fresh, not canned, foods.

    When I’m planning a grocery trip, I like to check in with EWG’s Healthy Home Tip: Go organic and eat fresh foods.

  1. USE NON-TOXIC COOKWARE
    Using a great pan makes a huge difference when I cook. I skip the non-stick so that my kids (and our dog) don’t have to breathe toxic fumes that can off-gas from non-stick pans over high heat.Non-stick cookware is in most American kitchens. Is it in yours?

    • If you’re ‘stuck’ with non-stick, cook safer with it. You can reduce the possibility of toxic fumes by cooking smart with any non-stick cookware you happen to own: Never heat an empty pan, don’t put it in an oven hotter than 500 degrees F and use an exhaust fan over the stove.

    Learn more about cooking safely in our Healthy Home Tip: Skip the non-stick.

  1. STORE AND REHEAT LEFTOVERS SAFELY
    Leftovers can extend the joy of a holiday — by giving you a break from the kitchen! But be sure to avoid plastic when storing and (especially) when heating them. Here’s why — and how:

    • Skip plastic food storage containers if you can. The chemical additives in plastic can migrate into food and liquids. Ceramic or glass food containers (such as Pyrex) are safer. Click here to get a 10-piece Pyrex set on Amazon (and a portion of your purchase will go towards helping EWG!).
    • Don’t microwave food or drinks in plastic containers, even if they claim to be “microwave safe.” Heat can release chemicals into your food and drink. Microwave ovens heat unevenly, creating hot spots where the plastic is more likely to break down.
    • If you do use a plastic container, handle it carefully. Use it for cool liquids only; wash plastics by hand or on the top rack of the dishwasher, farther from the heating element; use a paper towel instead of plastic wrap to cover food in the microwave. Also, avoid single-use plastic as much as possible — reusing it isn’t safe (it can harbor bacteria) and tossing it out fills up landfills (and pollutes the environment).

    Read more about heating and storing food safely in our Healthy Home Tip: Pick plastics carefully.

I hope these tips make having a green holiday easier. Happy Holidays!

Another Reason to Avoid Milk Products


Casein, a protein contained in milk products, was referenced previously in this blog.   Casein is linked to cancer growth.

Below is a link from Dr. Mercola’s site.  The article and video discuss an artificial hormone, Rgbh, given to cows in the U.S. to stimulate milk production.   Rgbh is found in many non organic milk, cheeses and other dairy products.  The article shows how milk products which are not certified organic may contribute to your chances of getting breast cancer.

Just as a side note, organic ghee is fine for cooking as it is casein free.  It looks, tastes, and cooks like butter. It is actually clarified butter.   You can buy it in the non refrigerated shelves near the oils.  It is the one dairy product which I use.

 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/23/rgbh-in-milk-increases-risk-of-breast-cancer.aspx

Juice Lady on Why to Juice


Juicing is a powerful tool that can accelerate your progress towards optimal health, and Cherie Calbom, aka “The Juice Lady,” is an expert on this subject.

Virtually every health authority, even conventional doctors, recommend 6-8 servings of vegetables and fruits per day but very few of us actually get that. I’ve found juicing to be a simple and easy way to virtually guarantee that you’ll reach your daily target for vegetables. Juicing also allows you to add a wider variety of vegetables to your diet that you might not normally enjoy eating whole, and makes it easier for your body to absorb all those wonderful nutrients.

Cherie Calbom earned her nickname “The Juice Lady” back in 1991, when she worked for the Juiceman company.  But her passion about juicing began way before that, as she healed herself from a multitude of disabling health problems through juicing in her late 20′s.

Using Juice to Detox

Juicing is one way to detox your system and is in fact one of the reasons why some people start juicing in the first place. This detox effect no doubt helped Cherie recover from many of her ailments, which included chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, allergies and candidiasis.

Wheatgrass is particularly helpful in this respect. It provides nutrients that accelerate and facilitate detoxification, especially in your liver where most of your body’s detox occurs.

Depending on how toxic you are, you may experience detox reactions and actually feel worse, before you get better. In Cherie’s experience, most people need three months of regular juicing before significant improvement becomes apparent. Interestingly, three months is also the average lifespan of red blood cells. So in three months you should have renewed most all of your red blood cells, which would help explain the reason for this typical time frame.Common cleansing reactions include diarrhea, flu-like symptoms and headaches.

Once you get over that initial hurdle, however, the benefits can be nothing short of miraculous for many, such as:

Sleeping better
Improved memory, mental energy and cognition
Improved focus
Reduction in aches, pains, and headaches
Eliminating cravings
“This is one exciting thing that I’ve heard from so many people: in a week or two, their pain subsides,” Cherie says.  “I had one young woman who had plantar fasciitis; suffered with it for years. The only thing they had been able to do for her was a special shoe. She got started juicing, lost 18 lbs, and got rid of her plantar fasciitis.”

Detoxing Fat Stores Typically Requires Expert Help

It’s worth noting, however, that about 100-times more of the toxins are stored in your fat than in your blood. And although juicing may help you shed excess fat, which would reduce toxic stores, it will not in and of itself draw it out of your fat. More aggressive intervention is required for that, and likely needs to be done through a qualified physician.

For example, I recently met a surgical oncologist who uses high dose niacin to cause lipolysis (breakdown of fat), in conjunction with exercise to raise your core body temperature, followed by 40 minutes in an infrared sauna. Doing this process daily for a month causes your body to excrete stored toxins from your fat.

However, this is not a detox cure you can dabble with at home. First of all, 20 to 25 percent of people cannot tolerate niacin. It causes massive flushing. Second, although it’s a vitamin, at the doses required for detox, it’s treated as a drug. He starts his patients out at about 100 mg and progresses all the way up to 5,000 mg, which is a massive dose. You’ll be beet red from the niacin flush! So intense detoxes like these have to be used with extreme caution under a physician’s care.

Weight Loss—An Added Boon of Juicing

Cherie’s book, The Juice Lady’s Turbo Diet, is in large part oriented towards weight loss. Obesity is one of the primary health challenges here in the US. Technically, more than a third of American adults are obese, and nearly 80 percent of Americans are overweight! However, she didn’t set out to recommend juicing specifically as a weight loss aid. This, she found out through countless clients and readers, was a side effect of juicing.

She decided to look into it further, and her investigation eventually led to the creation of her book.

“There were two studies completed in 2009– last year, I believe it was one at Baylor College of Medicine and the other at UC Davis using Vegetable Juicing and for Weight Loss. which They found that the people who included one to two glasses of vegetable juice a day lost four times the weight of the non-juice drinkers. I thought that was rather interesting and significant…

In one of the studies, the majority of the people in it had metabolic syndrome; insulin resistance. I found that very interesting because that’s a tougher condition to work with and still see weight loss results… I really got excited and that’s when I put this book together, giving people the whole program of how to integrate vegetable juicing into their lifestyle with menu plans, shopping list, and recipes.. Since that time, I’ve heard from people all across the country who have said they’ve given this diet a try, and they’re losing weight—many times where nothing was working for them before.”

Juicing Alone is Not the Sole Answer for Weight Loss, You Must also Alter Your Food Choices

However, juicing in and of itself likely will not solve your weight problem. Your overall diet is just as important, if not more so, and her book prescribes a low-glycemic diet together with juicing to achieve maximum results. She essentially combined the diabetic diet with vegetable juicing.

According to Cherie, this combination has been the most effective for people with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes. She also recommends including coconut oil, as it too can help with weight loss. Cherie recommends using about one teaspoon to one tablespoon a day for this purpose.

Other Reasons for Using Coconut Oil

“I was absolutely shocked when I first started reading about coconut oil because I, like so many people, have been told that it’s a saturated fat, and to avoid all tropical oils,” Cherie says. “When I got awakened to the truth, I wanted to know more and, eventually, wrote the book, The Coconut Diet.

I discovered that coconut oil, even though it is saturatued, is a very healthful oil. is marvelous. The body prefers to burn it rather than store it in fat cells. It is rich in lauric, acid, caprylic, and caproic fatty acids, which are short- to medium-chained fatty acids that work on breaking down the outer wall of yeast cells. There was a study done not too long ago in Nigeria at University College Hospital. They used coconut oil for treating people even with Candida albicans, which is one of the toughest yeasts to destroy, and it worked even on that yeast.”

However, when you first start out on coconut oil, you may feel ill.  Why is that?

“The yeasts are dying off,” Cherie explains. “So just cut back on the amount of coconut oil you’re taking and then work back up.”

You could do as much as one to three tablespoons of coconut oil a day as a therapeutic dose to kill excessive yeast, although you will need to work your way up to that amount, and It is probably safer to start with one teaspoon.. Your level of tolerance depends on how well your liver functions as it is a fat. But it may be too many calories for some people, as three tablespoons would give you about 400 calories just from coconut oil.

Additionally, many individuals who chose to be a vegetarian or vegan will have dangerously low cholesterol levels and coconut oil can be very effectively used to increase cholesterol levels.  If you already have high cholesterol levels though it is not dangerous unless you take very large quantities.

You always want to make sure you’re using organic, virgin, unprocessed coconut oil, and avoid the refined kind as the processing eliminates many of the healthful fatty acids. Cherie and I also agree on the recommendation to use it for all your cooking needs as well, in lieu of other cooking oils.

“It has a medium smoke point of about 350 degrees,” Cherie explains. “Most of the sautéing that we do in our home kitchens aren’t over 350 degrees. I always say if you see it smoking, pull it off the burner right away because that’s the point where your oil is starting to break down and will start to oxidize. It’s a durable oil because it’s saturated. The very fact that it’s saturated makes it more durable than your polyunsaturates, which will oxidize much more easily. I don’t recommend polyunsaturated oils at all.”

For high-heat, such as baking around 400 degrees or so, you can use almond oil instead.

How Much Juice Do You Need?

Cherie’s program calls for juicing twice a day. If you’re diabetic, hypoglycemic or insulin resistant, you’ll want to focus on dark greens. Cherie also recommends diluting all your juices with cucumbers instead of water, to gain the extra nutrients. This way you’ll also avoid any and all potential toxins, such as fluoride, in your tap water.

If you’re juicing for weight loss, Cherie recommends a minimum of 16 ounces of juice a day. Ideally, you’ll want to strive for a full quart of juice, split up between the morning and the afternoon.

When juicing that much, I recommend juicing it all at once, to save time. Then use a FoodSaver, or put it in a glass jar filled to the very top so there is no oxygen, and put it in the fridge immediately. You’re probably going to retain well over 90 percent of the nutritional value if you do it in that way and consume it within 12 hours.

Juicing to Perk You Up, or Calm You Down

Besides juicing for detox and weight loss, other reasons to juice include boosting your energy, or alternatively, calming you down at the end of the evening.

“I talked with one young woman who had a two-year old and was coming home after work, tired but still lots to do, and would have a glass of wine. She said, “I was ready to just lay on the couch and go to sleep.” Now she comes home and makes juice for the whole family instead, and she’s energized to make a healthy meal.

So it’s excellent to make your juice for the next day and your evening cocktail all at once. Have a glass of juice while you’re making dinner to perk you right back up,” Cherie says.

“So many people say they come home just dead tired and starved. Maybe they didn’t eat for a good portion of their day. Maybe they skipped lunch or ate something really fast at their desk. Instead of grabbing a bag of chips or some awful snack when you run in the door and you’re hungry, go right for your juicer and make a glass of juice. It’s going to be energizing. It’s going to send a signal to your body that you’re not as hungry now. You’re fed. You’ve got all these nutrients now. So hopefully, then you’re not going to eat as much at dinner.”

You can also make a small amount of calming juice to drink just before you go to bed. Celery and romaine lettuce are very calming and will help you sleep.

Nutritional Typing and Food Sensitivities

Nutritional typing, for those who aren’t familiar with it, is a concept that really seeks to divide people in three different types:

Protein types benefit from large amounts of protein and fat, and small amounts of carbs
Carbohydrate type need high amounts of vegetable carbs, and lower amounts of proteins and fat
Mixed type need a little bit of everything and can tolerate most foods
Your genetics and biochemistry determines which group you fit in. Paradoxically, even the healthiest of foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables, are not as well-suited for everyone.

Dark green leafy vegetables are very high in potassium, and for protein types, potassium-rich foods tend to drive your biochemistry in the wrong direction. Hence, care must be taken to select the most appropriate foods, even when we’re talking about something as healthful as vegetables.

A giant clue is to check how different foods make you feel. Listening to your body is one of the KEY elements of nutritional typing. If something makes you feel worse (sleepy, gassy, or lethargic, for example), it’s a sign it’s not beneficial for you—even though it might be generally considered a very healthful food. A healthful food for YOU will make you feel better. It will raise your energy level and suppress your appetite. Typically, if you’re still hungry, it may be a sign that you need a little more fat and protein in your meal, or with your juice.

Must All Your Veggies Be Organic When Juicing?

Organic produce has been shown to have a much higher nutrient-content than conventional fresh produce, which should offer plenty of incentive to locate organic produce that has also been grown locally. On average, conventional produce has only 83 percent of the nutrients of organic produce.

However, pesticide contamination is another important issue when it comes to juicing, since you’re using higher quantities of fruits and vegetables than you would normally eat whole. The Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide is an excellent resource to help you figure out what to buy organic, and what conventionally-grown veggies you can get away with buying with the least amount of health risk. The guide is now also available as an iPhone application.

The produce ranked the highest in terms of pesticide load, making them the most important to buy or grow organic are:

Celery Peaches Strawberries Apples
Blueberries Nectarines Bell peppers Spinach
Cherries Kale and Collard greens Potatoes Grapes
Meanwhile, the produce below has the lowest pesticide load when conventionally grown. Consequently, they are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume:

Grapefruit Avocados Onions Pineapple
Mangos Sweet peas Asparagus Kiwi
Cabbage Eggplant Cantaloupe and honeydew melon Watermelon
By paying heed to the typical pesticide load, you can put your money where it’s going to be the most beneficial. However, ideally ALL your foods should be organic if you can afford it.

What Can You Do with the Pulp?

Many are concerned about wasting the pulp and throwing it away. Well that can easily be solved by composting it into your vegetable or ornamental garden. However, an even better solution would be to eat it.

From a nutritional perspective it is far more useful to eat the whole vegetable as the fibers actually serve as a prebiotic and raw fuel for your good bacteria to grow, and as a weed killer that actually helps to eradicate harmful organisms like yeast and pathogenic bacteria. You are probably thinking “how disgusting,” and “why would I ever want to do that?”

Well if you dress up the pulp with some Himalayan salt and other condiments that you may enjoy, like balsamic vinegar and crushed red peppers, it becomes far more palatable. What I have recently figured out though is if I put a few lightly poached eggs over the pulp with some melted fresh raw organic butter, it really is turns it into a delicious meal.

The butter and eggs provide fat and protein that actually balance out the meal. I used to feel hungry after juicing but since I started eating the pulp with poached eggs I feel very full and satisfied.

Some might ask why I don’t just use a powerful mixer like a Vita Mixer and have less mess to clean up and prepare it quicker. Well there are several problems doing it this way as the speed of the Vita Mixer is too high and will actually damage some of the nutrients in the vegetables. More importantly is it is MUCH less palatable as it becomes a thick, almost undrinkable slurry rather than a tasty meal and refreshing thin juice you can drink right down.

What about Pre-Made Vegetable Juices?

Many people don’t want to go through the hassle of juicing from scratch and instead opt for supplements like Juice Plus+, which purports to have all the same benefits as fresh juice. However, there are significant drawbacks with these conveniences. When you look at the cost/value equation, to get the same amount of nutrition from a glass of high quality organic vegetable juice, you probably have to take a bottle or two of these Juice Plus+ tablets and the cost would extraordinary.

“There is also something else that’s missing,” Cherie says.

“People have asked me about Juice Plus+ for years. But you don’t have biophotons in there. How could you? It’s processed. So you’re losing the LIFE of the plant. That’s probably my number one reason to juice—to get that life into my body.”

Aside from the lack of biophotons, processing may also destroy complementary co-factors that you get when you juice a whole food and drink it fresh. In a nutshell, you simply cannotJuicing is a powerful tool that can accelerate your progress towards optimal health, and Cherie Calbom, aka “The Juice Lady,” is an expert on this subject.

Virtually every health authority, even conventional doctors, recommend 6-8 servings of vegetables and fruits per day but very few of us actually get that. I’ve found juicing to be a simple and easy way to virtually guarantee that you’ll reach your daily target for vegetables. Juicing also allows you to add a wider variety of vegetables to your diet that you might not normally enjoy eating whole, and makes it easier for your body to absorb all those wonderful nutrients.

Cherie Calbom earned her nickname “The Juice Lady” back in 1991, when she worked for the Juiceman company.  But her passion about juicing began way before that, as she healed herself from a multitude of disabling health problems through juicing in her late 20′s.

Using Juice to Detox

Juicing is one way to detox your system and is in fact one of the reasons why some people start juicing in the first place. This detox effect no doubt helped Cherie recover from many of her ailments, which included chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, allergies and candidiasis.

Wheatgrass is particularly helpful in this respect. It provides nutrients that accelerate and facilitate detoxification, especially in your liver where most of your body’s detox occurs.

Depending on how toxic you are, you may experience detox reactions and actually feel worse, before you get better. In Cherie’s experience, most people need three months of regular juicing before significant improvement becomes apparent. Interestingly, three months is also the average lifespan of red blood cells. So in three months you should have renewed most all of your red blood cells, which would help explain the reason for this typical time frame.Common cleansing reactions include diarrhea, flu-like symptoms and headaches.

Once you get over that initial hurdle, however, the benefits can be nothing short of miraculous for many, such as:

Sleeping better
Improved memory, mental energy and cognition
Improved focus
Reduction in aches, pains, and headaches
Eliminating cravings
“This is one exciting thing that I’ve heard from so many people: in a week or two, their pain subsides,” Cherie says.  “I had one young woman who had plantar fasciitis; suffered with it for years. The only thing they had been able to do for her was a special shoe. She got started juicing, lost 18 lbs, and got rid of her plantar fasciitis.”

Detoxing Fat Stores Typically Requires Expert Help

It’s worth noting, however, that about 100-times more of the toxins are stored in your fat than in your blood. And although juicing may help you shed excess fat, which would reduce toxic stores, it will not in and of itself draw it out of your fat. More aggressive intervention is required for that, and likely needs to be done through a qualified physician.

For example, I recently met a surgical oncologist who uses high dose niacin to cause lipolysis (breakdown of fat), in conjunction with exercise to raise your core body temperature, followed by 40 minutes in an infrared sauna. Doing this process daily for a month causes your body to excrete stored toxins from your fat.

However, this is not a detox cure you can dabble with at home. First of all, 20 to 25 percent of people cannot tolerate niacin. It causes massive flushing. Second, although it’s a vitamin, at the doses required for detox, it’s treated as a drug. He starts his patients out at about 100 mg and progresses all the way up to 5,000 mg, which is a massive dose. You’ll be beet red from the niacin flush! So intense detoxes like these have to be used with extreme caution under a physician’s care.

Weight Loss—An Added Boon of Juicing

Cherie’s book, The Juice Lady’s Turbo Diet, is in large part oriented towards weight loss. Obesity is one of the primary health challenges here in the US. Technically, more than a third of American adults are obese, and nearly 80 percent of Americans are overweight! However, she didn’t set out to recommend juicing specifically as a weight loss aid. This, she found out through countless clients and readers, was a side effect of juicing.

She decided to look into it further, and her investigation eventually led to the creation of her book.

“There were two studies completed in 2009– last year, I believe it was one at Baylor College of Medicine and the other at UC Davis using Vegetable Juicing and for Weight Loss. which They found that the people who included one to two glasses of vegetable juice a day lost four times the weight of the non-juice drinkers. I thought that was rather interesting and significant…

In one of the studies, the majority of the people in it had metabolic syndrome; insulin resistance. I found that very interesting because that’s a tougher condition to work with and still see weight loss results… I really got excited and that’s when I put this book together, giving people the whole program of how to integrate vegetable juicing into their lifestyle with menu plans, shopping list, and recipes.. Since that time, I’ve heard from people all across the country who have said they’ve given this diet a try, and they’re losing weight—many times where nothing was working for them before.”

Juicing Alone is Not the Sole Answer for Weight Loss, You Must also Alter Your Food Choices

However, juicing in and of itself likely will not solve your weight problem. Your overall diet is just as important, if not more so, and her book prescribes a low-glycemic diet together with juicing to achieve maximum results. She essentially combined the diabetic diet with vegetable juicing.

According to Cherie, this combination has been the most effective for people with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes. She also recommends including coconut oil, as it too can help with weight loss. Cherie recommends using about one teaspoon to one tablespoon a day for this purpose.

Other Reasons for Using Coconut Oil

“I was absolutely shocked when I first started reading about coconut oil because I, like so many people, have been told that it’s a saturated fat, and to avoid all tropical oils,” Cherie says. “When I got awakened to the truth, I wanted to know more and, eventually, wrote the book, The Coconut Diet.

I discovered that coconut oil, even though it is saturatued, is a very healthful oil. is marvelous. The body prefers to burn it rather than store it in fat cells. It is rich in lauric, acid, caprylic, and caproic fatty acids, which are short- to medium-chained fatty acids that work on breaking down the outer wall of yeast cells. There was a study done not too long ago in Nigeria at University College Hospital. They used coconut oil for treating people even with Candida albicans, which is one of the toughest yeasts to destroy, and it worked even on that yeast.”

However, when you first start out on coconut oil, you may feel ill.  Why is that?

“The yeasts are dying off,” Cherie explains. “So just cut back on the amount of coconut oil you’re taking and then work back up.”

You could do as much as one to three tablespoons of coconut oil a day as a therapeutic dose to kill excessive yeast, although you will need to work your way up to that amount, and It is probably safer to start with one teaspoon.. Your level of tolerance depends on how well your liver functions as it is a fat. But it may be too many calories for some people, as three tablespoons would give you about 400 calories just from coconut oil.

Additionally, many individuals who chose to be a vegetarian or vegan will have dangerously low cholesterol levels and coconut oil can be very effectively used to increase cholesterol levels.  If you already have high cholesterol levels though it is not dangerous unless you take very large quantities.

You always want to make sure you’re using organic, virgin, unprocessed coconut oil, and avoid the refined kind as the processing eliminates many of the healthful fatty acids. Cherie and I also agree on the recommendation to use it for all your cooking needs as well, in lieu of other cooking oils.

“It has a medium smoke point of about 350 degrees,” Cherie explains. “Most of the sautéing that we do in our home kitchens aren’t over 350 degrees. I always say if you see it smoking, pull it off the burner right away because that’s the point where your oil is starting to break down and will start to oxidize. It’s a durable oil because it’s saturated. The very fact that it’s saturated makes it more durable than your polyunsaturates, which will oxidize much more easily. I don’t recommend polyunsaturated oils at all.”

For high-heat, such as baking around 400 degrees or so, you can use almond oil instead.

How Much Juice Do You Need?

Cherie’s program calls for juicing twice a day. If you’re diabetic, hypoglycemic or insulin resistant, you’ll want to focus on dark greens. Cherie also recommends diluting all your juices with cucumbers instead of water, to gain the extra nutrients. This way you’ll also avoid any and all potential toxins, such as fluoride, in your tap water.

If you’re juicing for weight loss, Cherie recommends a minimum of 16 ounces of juice a day. Ideally, you’ll want to strive for a full quart of juice, split up between the morning and the afternoon.

When juicing that much, I recommend juicing it all at once, to save time. Then use a FoodSaver, or put it in a glass jar filled to the very top so there is no oxygen, and put it in the fridge immediately. You’re probably going to retain well over 90 percent of the nutritional value if you do it in that way and consume it within 12 hours.

Juicing to Perk You Up, or Calm You Down

Besides juicing for detox and weight loss, other reasons to juice include boosting your energy, or alternatively, calming you down at the end of the evening.

“I talked with one young woman who had a two-year old and was coming home after work, tired but still lots to do, and would have a glass of wine. She said, “I was ready to just lay on the couch and go to sleep.” Now she comes home and makes juice for the whole family instead, and she’s energized to make a healthy meal.

So it’s excellent to make your juice for the next day and your evening cocktail all at once. Have a glass of juice while you’re making dinner to perk you right back up,” Cherie says.

“So many people say they come home just dead tired and starved. Maybe they didn’t eat for a good portion of their day. Maybe they skipped lunch or ate something really fast at their desk. Instead of grabbing a bag of chips or some awful snack when you run in the door and you’re hungry, go right for your juicer and make a glass of juice. It’s going to be energizing. It’s going to send a signal to your body that you’re not as hungry now. You’re fed. You’ve got all these nutrients now. So hopefully, then you’re not going to eat as much at dinner.”

You can also make a small amount of calming juice to drink just before you go to bed. Celery and romaine lettuce are very calming and will help you sleep.

Nutritional Typing and Food Sensitivities

Nutritional typing, for those who aren’t familiar with it, is a concept that really seeks to divide people in three different types:

Protein types benefit from large amounts of protein and fat, and small amounts of carbs
Carbohydrate type need high amounts of vegetable carbs, and lower amounts of proteins and fat
Mixed type need a little bit of everything and can tolerate most foods
Your genetics and biochemistry determines which group you fit in. Paradoxically, even the healthiest of foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables, are not as well-suited for everyone.

Dark green leafy vegetables are very high in potassium, and for protein types, potassium-rich foods tend to drive your biochemistry in the wrong direction. Hence, care must be taken to select the most appropriate foods, even when we’re talking about something as healthful as vegetables.

A giant clue is to check how different foods make you feel. Listening to your body is one of the KEY elements of nutritional typing. If something makes you feel worse (sleepy, gassy, or lethargic, for example), it’s a sign it’s not beneficial for you—even though it might be generally considered a very healthful food. A healthful food for YOU will make you feel better. It will raise your energy level and suppress your appetite. Typically, if you’re still hungry, it may be a sign that you need a little more fat and protein in your meal, or with your juice.

Must All Your Veggies Be Organic When Juicing?

Organic produce has been shown to have a much higher nutrient-content than conventional fresh produce, which should offer plenty of incentive to locate organic produce that has also been grown locally. On average, conventional produce has only 83 percent of the nutrients of organic produce.

However, pesticide contamination is another important issue when it comes to juicing, since you’re using higher quantities of fruits and vegetables than you would normally eat whole. The Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide is an excellent resource to help you figure out what to buy organic, and what conventionally-grown veggies you can get away with buying with the least amount of health risk. The guide is now also available as an iPhone application.

The produce ranked the highest in terms of pesticide load, making them the most important to buy or grow organic are:

Celery Peaches Strawberries Apples
Blueberries Nectarines Bell peppers Spinach
Cherries Kale and Collard greens Potatoes Grapes
Meanwhile, the produce below has the lowest pesticide load when conventionally grown. Consequently, they are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume:

Grapefruit Avocados Onions Pineapple
Mangos Sweet peas Asparagus Kiwi
Cabbage Eggplant Cantaloupe and honeydew melon Watermelon
By paying heed to the typical pesticide load, you can put your money where it’s going to be the most beneficial. However, ideally ALL your foods should be organic if you can afford it.

What Can You Do with the Pulp?

Many are concerned about wasting the pulp and throwing it away. Well that can easily be solved by composting it into your vegetable or ornamental garden. However, an even better solution would be to eat it.

From a nutritional perspective it is far more useful to eat the whole vegetable as the fibers actually serve as a prebiotic and raw fuel for your good bacteria to grow, and as a weed killer that actually helps to eradicate harmful organisms like yeast and pathogenic bacteria. You are probably thinking “how disgusting,” and “why would I ever want to do that?”

Well if you dress up the pulp with some Himalayan salt and other condiments that you may enjoy, like balsamic vinegar and crushed red peppers, it becomes far more palatable. What I have recently figured out though is if I put a few lightly poached eggs over the pulp with some melted fresh raw organic butter, it really is turns it into a delicious meal.

The butter and eggs provide fat and protein that actually balance out the meal. I used to feel hungry after juicing but since I started eating the pulp with poached eggs I feel very full and satisfied.

Some might ask why I don’t just use a powerful mixer like a Vita Mixer and have less mess to clean up and prepare it quicker. Well there are several problems doing it this way as the speed of the Vita Mixer is too high and will actually damage some of the nutrients in the vegetables. More importantly is it is MUCH less palatable as it becomes a thick, almost undrinkable slurry rather than a tasty meal and refreshing thin juice you can drink right down.

What about Pre-Made Vegetable Juices?

Many people don’t want to go through the hassle of juicing from scratch and instead opt for supplements like Juice Plus+, which purports to have all the same benefits as fresh juice. However, there are significant drawbacks with these conveniences. When you look at the cost/value equation, to get the same amount of nutrition from a glass of high quality organic vegetable juice, you probably have to take a bottle or two of these Juice Plus+ tablets and the cost would extraordinary.

“There is also something else that’s missing,” Cherie says.

“People have asked me about Juice Plus+ for years. But you don’t have biophotons in there. How could you? It’s processed. So you’re losing the LIFE of the plant. That’s probably my number one reason to juice—to get that life into my body.”

Aside from the lack of biophotons, processing may also destroy complementary co-factors that you get when you juice a whole food and drink it fresh. In a nutshell, you simply cannot compare a processed juice supplement to the real thing, because you simply will not receive all the benefits of whole, fresh juice. A supplement is going to be better than nothing in circumstances when you don’t have access to a juicer, such as when traveling, but cannot be recommended as a substitute for regular juicing.

Hopefully, this interview has been able to inspire you to start exploring the world of juicing, if you haven’t already, as juicing can massively facilitate the improvement of your health.

Related Links:
Juicing index
Juicing For Protein Types — NOT Off-Limits!
Can Juicing Really Lead to Happiness?
compare a processed juice supplement to the real thing, because you simply will not receive all the benefits of whole, fresh juice. A supplement is going to be better than nothing in circumstances when you don’t have access to a juicer, such as when traveling, but cannot be recommended as a substitute for regular juicing.

Hopefully, this interview has been able to inspire you to start exploring the world of juicing, if you haven’t already, as juicing can massively facilitate the improvement of your health.

Related Links:
Juicing index
Juicing For Protein Types — NOT Off-Limits!
Can Juicing Really Lead to Happiness?

How to Use All Those Garden Tomatoes


Grape tomatoes.

Image via Wikipedia

I juice my tomatoes.  They are delicious alone or you can add zucchini or yellow squash.  Or whatever you have in the garden that you think would be good with it–  a little spinach,  a pepper, etc.  I use a Breville Fountain Juicer.  Here is a sample of what I juice.

8 to 10 ripe tomatoes.

1 zucchini or yellow squash

1 small banana pepper

handful of spinach, swiss chard or kale

 

After you have juiced, use the pulp to make tomato soup.  Put the pulp in a large saucepan.  Add 2 16 oz. cans of organic tomato sauce and 2 cans of water.  You may add 1 cup of almond milk or any other kind of milk if you like your soup creamy and leave out 1 can of water.  Chop an onion and a clove of garlic and add.  Add 1 cup of fresh basil removing large stems.

Cook on stove top on medium heat for 30 minutes.  Use an immersion blender like the Cuisinart Smart Stick ($30 at Bed, Bath and Beyond) to mix it until it is creamy.  Serve with garnish of basil if desired.  I freeze extra soup for later.

 

 

 

 

Making Healthy Soups Fast


Asparagus  Soup   (Asparagus soup is alkalizing which is very health promoting.)

1 large onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic-chopped

1 bunch of asparagus trimmed  (break off hard ends at stems) then chopped into 1 inch pieces

2 quarts of  free range organic chicken broth

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

 

Saute the onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon of olive oil or ghee (clarified butter) until they are just transparent in large 4 quart pot with a lid.  Add the chicken broth, asparagus and almond milk.

 

Cover with lid and cook for 30 minutes on medium heat.  Use immersion blender to purée into creamy soup after 30 minutes.

Add lite salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.

 

You can use this same recipe for broccoli,  for cauliflower, for squash and for carrot soup.  Just substitute 1 head of broccoli or cauliflower or 2 cups of carrots or squash all cut into 1 inch pieces.  You may add a 1/4 tsp of tabasco sauce to any of these soups to give it a touch of zest.

 

 

Dr. Mercola’s summary on probiotics


This is reprinted from Dr. Mercola’s website.  It is a great summary on probiotics.

The History Behind Fermented Foods and Their Health Benefits

History provides us a few clues on how different cultures promoted their intestinal health before modern times. Years ago, people used fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut – as food preservatives and as support for intestinal and overall health.

Raw Yogurt DrinkAncient Indian culture (as well as today),
promoted intestinal health with a raw yogurt
drink called lassi – full of probiotics

Here are a few examples…

  • During Roman times, people ate sauerkraut because of its taste and benefits to their overall health.
  • In ancient Indian society, it became commonplace (and still is) to enjoy a before-dinner yogurt drink called a lassi. These Indian traditions were based on the principle of using sour milk as a probiotic delivery system to the body.
  • Bulgarians are known both for their health and their high consumption of fermented milk and kefir.
  • In Asian cultures, pickled fermentations of cabbage, turnips, eggplant, cucumbers, onions, squash and carrots still exist today.
  • People of the Ukraine consume probiotics from foods like sauerkraut, raw yogurt, and buttermilk.

The interesting thing was most of these dietary habits were born from tradition… at the time, no one really knew or understood why they were so healthy to your digestive system.*

How Probiotics Got Their Start – An Uphill Battle
Against Big Pharma

Well, things changed in the early 1900s, when Russian scientist Elie Metchnikoff (Nobel Prize 1908) proposed that the Balkan population enjoyed excellent health due to consumption of large quantities of fermented milks containing beneficial bacteria.*

These ‘good’ bacteria were later defined as probiotics, which comes from Greek terminology meaning ‘for life.’

In the 1950s, the USDA licensed a probiotic formula for use in the digestive tract of pigs. Later on in the 1970s, the effectiveness of the probiotics in that role in pigs was discovered. Probiotics were later pioneered for human use.

So, what took so long to bring probiotics to the forefront in human health enhancements?*

I believe that the mere fact that large pharmaceutical companies were able to leverage millions of dollars to market their products pushed probiotics out of the way… relegated them to the back-burner.

But today, the health trend has clearly begun to shift toward natural nutrition. And that has allowed probiotics to resurface and gain the attention they deserve.

And that’s why I spend so much of my time researching factual data on how to provide you with the best probiotic formula available.

All this is well and good, but…

Why Are Probiotics So Vital to Your Health?*

Mother Embracing her BabyWhy do many caesarean-section infants have
less-than-optimal health after birth?

From the very first breath you take, you’re exposed to probiotics.

How so?

On the way through the birth canal during a normal delivery, a newborn gets dosed with bacteria from their mother. This event starts colonization in the infant’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract of ‘good’ bacteria. Compelling new research now shows many caesarean-section infants have less-than-optimal health after birth. This is most likely because they are not exposed to the mother’s healthy bacteria in the birth canal which would then serve to populate its own GI tract.

As you mature, you’re faced with many threats to the beneficial bacteria in your gut… from chlorinated drinking water… to overly-processed foods.

The ‘good’ bacteria in your gastrointestinal system can only provide you with optimum health if the proper balance of different types of bacteria is maintained in your gut.*

This is where probiotics can have a profound effect… not just on your GI health, but on your overall health as well.* Keep in mind, 80% of your immune system actually lives in your gut.

Probiotic formulas are available with many different types of bacterial strains… with the most common being Lactobacillus acidophilus. But as you’ll find out shortly, not all probiotics are created equal… and not all probiotic formulas are properly produced to provide optimal benefits.*

In general, if formulated properly, the major benefits of a high-quality probiotic are to…

  • Aid you in digesting food, particularly hard-to-digest foods and foods to which some individuals are more sensitive.*
  • Enhance the synthesis of B vitamins and improve calcium absorption*
  • Help you keep a healthy balance of intestinal microflora*
  • (In women) Promote vaginal health*
  • Support your overall immune function*

And more…

I strongly believe the key to an optimal probiotic formula is through science-backed research by a qualified non-biased laboratory… and through a manufacturer with rigorous high-quality process standards in place.

You’ll see more evidence of this unwavering belief I have coming up…

When’s the Best Time to Take a Probiotic Supplement?

One of the confusing issues with probiotic supplements hinges around timing… when is the best time to take them?

Medicine IntakeWhen’s the best time to take a probiotic?
See my recommendations here

Recommendations are pretty much all over the place on the best time to take them around meal times.

I can tell you when it comes to this, my team and I have carefully researched this issue and even consulted with the one of the foremost authorities and pioneers on probiotics…

The bottom line… my recommended approach and timing for taking a probiotic supplement are…

  • Take it prior to eating breakfast with a glass of pure water
  • Wait 10-15 minutes after taking it before you eat because stomach acid from your meal could impact some of the ‘good’ bacteria (you could lose 5-10%)
  • Avoid taking it within 3 hours of taking any antibiotic

And talking about meals and probiotics, something I hear quite often is…

“If I Eat Yogurt, Should I Still Take Probiotics?”

You are probably wondering why using nearly any commercial yogurt might not be as beneficial as a probiotic supplement. Afterall, traditional cultures have been consuming cultured, fermented foods like yogurt for years for digestive health promotion.

Eating YougurtMost commercial yogurts are not a good source
of probiotics. Heat pasteurization significantly
reduces most of the ‘good’ bacteria benefits

The problem arises because…

  • Traditional yogurts were phenomenal sources of beneficial bacteria due to their raw and unpasteurized state.
  • Most of today’s yogurts are pasteurized, unless specially purchased raw and unpasteurized from a local farmer. Sadly, pasteurization radically reduces most of the benefits.
  • Even most of the yogurts certified organic by the USDA are pasteurized in some fashion.

So what, in my opinion, is wrong with pasteurization?

Well, it basically kills or sterilizes most of the beneficial and other bacteria during the heat processing. And some yogurts (particularly the frozen ones), don’t contain any live bacteria at all.

So, as great-tasting as many of them are, don’t be fooled by yogurt products advertising live cultures beneficial to your digestive system… many have likely had the beneficial bacteria already reduced or wiped out by heat-intensive pasteurization processes.

To me, this is one of those cases where it appears that in our collective zeal to rid ourselves of every trace of infectious agents in our food supply and homes, we may have outdone ourselves.

As a whole, we’re less exposed to bacteria now than in the past, including beneficial bacteria. Antibacterial products, hand sanitizers, and the like have made for a world that’s a whole lot cleaner, but is it really that much healthier?

Due to strict food safety regulations, less bacteria (including the ‘good’ ones) survive the manufacturing process. Many overly-processed products, just like yogurt, undergo pasteurization or sterilization, which may destroy beneficial bacteria.

While this may be helpful in some ill-health prevention, it also means we are exposed to less health-enhancing bacteria.*

And with helpful bacteria less available in our food, I’m even more convinced how crucial it is to consider supplementation with high-quality probiotics.

But, I first must raise the caution flag and give you fair…

Fats


Here is another good article sent to me by Jennifer McLaughlin, nutritionist extrordinaire.

Good Fats to Feel Better Vs. Fats Causing Depression and Heart Disease
Why Even Skinny People Need to Know Their Fats! by Dr. Warren M. Levin
© 2011 Health Realizations, Inc

 

Many Americans are under the impression that “fats” is a four-letter word … a substance that must be shunned in your diet if you want to stay thin and avoid heart disease and other health issues. But this misguided nutritional dogma could actually be putting your health at risk, as all fats are NOT created equal — and, in fact, some fats are absolutely essential for your body to function optimally.

donuts

It’s true that some fats — like the trans fats found in doughnuts — need to be avoided. But others should be a regular part of your heart-healthy diet.

Repeat after us: All fat is not my enemy — and many fats are actually my friend.

Which Two Fats Really Should be Avoided?

1. Trans Fats (Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Fats)

In the realm of fats, there are two types you should definitely try to limit in your diet, the first being trans fats.

Trans fats are a synthetic type of fat found in margarine, shortening, fried foods like french fries and fried chicken, doughnuts, cookies, pastries and crackers. Anything that contains hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil also contains them.

Trans fat poses various serious health risks. It raises your body’s level of bad cholesterol (LDL) while scrubbing away the good cholesterol (HDL) that keeps your arteries clean. Your arteries can become clogged, making them inflexible, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Trans fat can also increase triglycerides and inflammation, a direct link to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

While many food manufacturers have removed trans fats from popular processed foods in recent years, there is a labeling “catch” you should know. The FDA allows food manufacturers to round to zero any ingredient that accounts for less than 0.5 grams per serving. So while a product may claim to be “trans-fat-free” it can legally contain up to 0.5 grams per serving. While this may seem like an insignificant amount, over time this small fraction can add up, especially if you eat more than one serving at a time.

A good rule of thumb? Trans fat is formed when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil, a process called hydrogenation. So if a food label lists hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat or oil, it contains trans fats in some level, even if the label says “0.” Avoid such foods at all costs.

A National Academy of Sciences panel actually ruled that trans fats are so dangerous, the only “safe” level is zero, so it could not set a safe daily intake level. Rather, they recommend that people consume as little trans fat as possible.

2. Refined Polyunsaturated Fats from Vegetable Oils

You may have been expecting to see saturated fats as the second dietary villain, but polyunsaturated fats are actually what you should look out for.

Polyunsaturated fats (omega-6 fats), which are found in soybean oil, canola oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, and others, are typically described as heart healthy — they may help to reduce cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease — BUT they are often highly processed and are quite perishable.

This means that the fats easily become rancid, and rancid fats may contribute to oxidative stress and damaging free radicals in your body. Further, when polyunsaturated fats are eaten in excess, as they are in the typical American diet, they can lead to the formation of excess prostanoids, which are chemicals that increase inflammation in your body.

One study published in Psychosomatic Medicine even found that people with more omega-6 fats in their blood compared to omega-3 fats (which we’ll discuss shortly) were more likely to suffer from depression and have high levels of inflammation-promoting substances like tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 — which increase your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and other diseases.

Which Fats are Your Friend?

While you should strive to reduce trans fats and polyunsaturated fats from refined vegetable oils in your diet, the following fats should be a regular part of your healthy diet.

1. Omega-3 Fats

Omega-3 fats, found in fish and fish oils and also some plant foods, are excellent for your heart. They’re anti-inflammatory and make blood less likely to clot inside arteries, prevent erratic heart rhythms, and prevent cholesterol from becoming damaged or oxidized.

Omega-3 fats have also been found to reduce the risk of many other health conditions including macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and more.

When consuming omega-3 fats, it’s important to be sure you’re getting some in the animal-based form, as opposed to only the plant-based form found in flaxseeds. Flaxseeds are rich in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fat, while the omega-3 fats in fish oil, cod liver oil and krill oil are called DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). It’s these latter two forms of omega-3 that seem to be responsible for most of the benefits, such as helping to prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and more.

Getting back to flaxseeds, ALA is a precursor to EPA, which means it is converted to EPA in your body. When converted, it can provide the benefits that EPA has to offer, BUT only a small percentage actually gets converted.

So, in order to receive the same benefits of the omega-3 in fish oil, cod liver oil or krill oil, you would need to take in A LOT of flaxseeds. This is the drawback to consuming omega-3 fats in plant form, even though flaxseeds are often — and somewhat misleadingly — thought of as a superior form of omega-3 fat.

2. Monounsaturated Fats

Most everyone agrees that monounsaturated fats, the kind found in avocados, olive oil, seeds and nuts, are exceptionally healthy and should definitely be included in your diet.

Increasing foods that contain these healthy fats can raise your HDL levels without harming your total cholesterol. Further, according to the American Heart Association:

“Monounsaturated fats can help reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. They also provide nutrients to help develop and maintain your body’s cells. Monounsaturated fats are also typically high in vitamin E, an antioxidant vitamin most Americans need more of.”

image

The saturated fat found in butter, cheese and other animal products may actually be good for you, according to some experts.

3. Saturated Fats

The health benefits, or lack thereof, of saturated fats is one of the most hotly debated topics among conventional and alternative medicine practitioners.

According to the American Heart Association, saturated fats are the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol, but the “lipid hypothesis,” the one that claims foods high in saturated fats drive up your cholesterol levels, which clog your arteries and lead to heart disease, may be based on entirely flawed science.

In his book The Cholesterol Myths, Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD explained that Ancel Keys, who performed the study upon which the Lipid Hypothesis is based, used cherry-picked data to prove his point that countries with the highest intake of animal fat have the highest rates of heart disease.

According to Keys this is what the data showed, but Dr. Ravnskov revealed that the countries used in the study were handpicked, and those that did NOT show that eating a lot of animal fat lead to higher rates of heart disease were left out of the study, leading to entirely skewed, and faulty, data.

So, many experts actually believe that saturated fats are good for you. They’re necessary for energy, hormone production, and cellular membranes, among other biological functions, and according to Mary Enig, PhD, your diet should contain at least 25 percent of fat as saturated fat.

The Weston A. Price Foundation expands on the many roles of saturated fats:

“Contrary to the accepted view, which is not scientifically based, saturated fats do not clog arteries or cause heart disease. In fact, the preferred food for the heart is saturated fat; and saturated fats lower a substance called Lp(a), which is a very accurate marker for proneness to heart disease.

Saturated fats play many important roles in the body chemistry. They strengthen the immune system and are involved in inter-cellular communication, which means they protect us against cancer. They help the receptors on our cell membranes work properly, including receptors for insulin, thereby protecting us against diabetes. The lungs cannot function without saturated fats, which is why children given butter and full-fat milk have much less asthma than children given reduced-fat milk and margarine. Saturated fats are also involved in kidney function and hormone production.

Saturated fats are required for the nervous system to function properly, and over half the fat in the brain is saturated. Saturated fats also help suppress inflammation. Finally, saturated animal fats carry the vital fat-soluble vitamins A, D and K2, which we need in large amounts to be healthy.

Human beings have been consuming saturated fats from animals products, milk products and the tropical oils for thousands of years; it is the advent of modern processed vegetable oil that is associated with the epidemic of modern degenerative disease, not the consumption of saturated fats.”

A Low-Fat Diet May Cause Heart Disease and Depression

It’s very important that your diet include a variety of healthy fats, as adhering to the low- and no-fat craze of decades’ past could put your health at risk.

Numerous studies have linked low-fat and low cholesterol diets to increased risks of depression, suicide and aggressive behavior. And one of the largest studies on low-fat diets — a $415-million federally funded study of close to 49,000 women — found that those who ate a low-fat diet had the same rates of breast cancer, colon cancer, heart attacks and strokes as those who did not limit their fat intake, and no changes in weight gain or loss were observed between the groups either.

Further, a new study presented at the American Dietetic Association’s (ADA) Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in 2010 revealed that replacing saturated fat in your diet with carbohydrates may actually increase your risk of heart disease.

So it’s very important that your diet includes plenty of healthy fats if you want to stay optimally healthy and protect your heart. You can get most healthy fats by eating a wide range of animal foods, fish, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocado, but you may want to supplement with additional omega-3, such as:

  • OmegAvail Lemon Drop Smoothie: A delicious tasting, high potency, emulsified fish oil product with superior bioavailability

    OmegAvail™ Lemon Drop Smoothie is a wonderful option for children and those who prefer not to swallow pills. It is also very convenient to use, as it quickly dissolves for easy mixing in water, juice, or blended beverages. It may also be taken alone.

  • OmegAvail Synergy: Enhanced with the addition of lipase, a digestive aid, this unique formula contains a blend of wild deep-sea sourced fish oils containing the omega-3 fats (EPA/DHA) in theTruTG™form, the omega-3 fat alpha linolenic acid (ALA) from flax seed oil and the most important omega-6 fat, GLA, from borage oil.

Remember, fats are not your enemy and many are actually your friends. If you want to support your heart health, your mood and your long-term health, consuming healthy fats is a smart choice and a veritable necessity.


Sources

Center for Science in the Public Interest July 10, 2002

MayoClinic.com Trans Fats

FoodNavigator-USA.com November 16, 2010

Psychosomatic Medicine March 30, 2007

Reuters April 17, 2007

The Weston A. Price Foundation: Principles of Healthy Diets

Psychology Today April 29, 2003

JAMA. 2006 Feb 8;295(6):629-42.

JAMA. 2006 Feb 8;295(6):643-54.

JAMA. 2006 Feb 8;295(6):655-66.

JAMA. 2006 Jan 4;295(1):39-49.

Blood Sugar


High blood sugar and cancer are linked.  This is a complex cause effect relationship which is not as simplistic as “Sugar feeds cancer.”  However, to me it is functionally that simple.

Here is an article from Dr. Mercola’s website about this.  Following that is a link to a great article by Tom Cowan on blood sugar, diabetes and ways to control this.

 

More Evidence Sugar Feeds Cancer

Growing tumor cells can crowd out other cells and cut them off from oxygen-carrying blood vessels, necessary for their survival. When this happens, some cancer cells have developed the ability to bypass the need for oxygen and instead switch to the glycolytic pathway, which they use even when oxygen is restored.

Researchers from the Harvard Medical School have now found that blocking one of the glycolytic pathway’s enzymes, LDHA, may be an effective anti-cancer therapy.

The researchers shut down glycolysis in breast cancer cells by blocking LDHA and implanted the cells in mice. Among the LDHA-deficient mice, only two died, one at 16 weeks and the other at 18 weeks, and 80 percent were still living at the end of the four-month study.

In contrast, the control mice, which had tumor cells with a working glycolytic pathway, died at 10 weeks or before.

The researchers concluded that LDHA may be a weak point in the glycolytic pathway, and knocking out the pathway could be an effective way to fight cancer.  

Sources:

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:
 


Cancer is now the number one cause of death in the United States; it surpassed heart disease last year.

Does anyone think that might be related to the obesity epidemic that we are in the midst of? Two out of three Americans are overweight and 73 million Americans have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Elevated insulin and leptin levels are usually major contributing factors in both of these diseases.

It is vital to understand what insulin actually is. Insulin is something you need as without it you would go into hyperglycemic coma and die, but many have insulin levels that are too high.

Your pancreas releases insulin — produced by beta cells — after you eat carbohydrates. This causes a rise in blood sugar. Insulin ensures your cells receive some blood sugar necessary for life, and increases glycogen storage. However, it also drives your body to use more carbohydrate, and less fat, as fuel. And, insulin converts almost half of your dietary carbohydrate to fat for storage. In other words, when we eat too much carbohydrate, we’re essentially sending a hormonal message, via insulin, to the body (actually, to the adipose cells).

The message: “Store fat.”

Not only do increased insulin levels tell your body to store carbohydrates as fat, they also tell it not to release any stored fat. This makes it impossible for you to use your own stored body fat for energy. So the excess carbohydrates in your diet not only make you fat, they make sure you stay fat.

High levels of insulin can cause major damage to your body. The most recognized of these is diabetes. In addition, hypertension, obesity, high levels of cholesterol and other lipids, heart disease, kidney disease, female infertility and neurodegeneration are all caused by eating too many carbohydrates, resulting in high insulin levels.

If you want to use more fats for energy, the insulin response must be moderated. Diets high in refined sugars release more insulin thereby allowing less stored fat to be burned.

Insulin is the Key to the Vast Majority of Chronic Illness

Getting back to the study, though, I find it somewhat tragic that this is not really new information. The article mentions Otto Warburg, who was the German physician that was awarded a Nobel Prize over 75 years ago for first uncovering cancer cells’ massive dependence on sugar as a fuel source.

Yes, you read that correctly. Physicians have been exposed to this information for 75 years, when most of your great grandparents were alive and kicking.

It is reassuring to have Harvard researchers confirm this again, though. But do you think for one moment this will change the clinical protocols for the average oncologist?

Don’t hold your breath.

It is just shocking to me that they don’t understand this basic fact and integrate it into their treatment program.

This is likely why exercise has consistently been shown to be associated with lower cancer rates.Exercise is a powerful way to improve insulin and leptin sensitivity, which helps to keep your fasting blood sugar below the magic 100 level.

My feeling is that you start to dramatically increase your risk for cancer once your fasting blood sugar rises above 100. The higher your blood sugar level the higher your risk of cancer.

Fortunately, you don’t have to wait another 75 years to benefit from this information. Just because your physician may be clueless about insulin’s influence on cancer doesn’t mean you have to be.

If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or are overweight you are best served by avoiding all sugars and most grains. Yes, even whole organic grains as they are not vegetable carbs, and all grains, even alternative ones like spelt, millet, amaranth and quinoa, will tend to raise your insulin levels.

Of course you will also want to participate in an effective exercise program.

How do you know you are doing good enough?

Simple, just have your doctor run a fasting insulin level and if it is below 4-5 you win.

 

Treating Diabetes: Practical Advice for Combatting a Modern Epidemic PDF Print E-mail
Written by Thomas Cowan, MD

   http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-diseases/diabetes/587-treating-diabetes 

 

 

 

Chronic Candida by Jennifer McLaughlin (nutritionist)


This article is written by Jennifer McLaughlin, nutritionist and educator.

 

Chronic Candida

AlimentaryLiving | June 16, 2011 at 10:10 AM | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p16WZ7-1B

Candida albicans is a fungus that is commonly found in the digestive tract. In a healthy situation this fungus causes no problems or symptoms and is controlled by friendly bacteria, our immune system, and intestinal pH. But if any of these control mechanisms are compromised, the candida may begin to multiply and spread. Candida albicans produces toxins, and as candida colonies increase in number and size, the quantities of toxin increase as well. Lipski (2005) describes how these toxins are absorbed into the blood stream and affect our immune system, hormone balance, and thought processes causing an amazing variety of systemic symptoms that vary by individual.

Trowbridge and Walker (1986) describe the symptoms of Candidiasis as “feeling bad all over.” The list of major symptoms is long and includes multiple food allergies, fatigue, depression, poor memory, erratic vision, achy muscles or joints, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, vaginal itch or burning, menstrual irregularities, loss of sexual desire or impotence, as well as prostatitis or endometriosis (Murray, 1997).

There are several candida questionnaires available that allow a quick and simple analysis of whether candida may be responsible for the poor health of an individual. Murray (1997), Crook (1986), and Lipski (2005) have similar questionnaires. Based on an individual’s responses to a series of questions regarding medical history and symptoms, the questionnaires interpret the results in terms of the likelihood that their health problems are yeast-connected. Although the questionnaires are certainly quick, easy, and useful; they do not provide a confirmed diagnosis. If an individual and their practitioner decide that they would like to confirm the diagnosis or simply tract the presence of candida through the treatment, a comprehensive stool and digestive analysis (CSDA) can provide this and other information that may help guide the treatment plan.

There are four primary factors that may lead to Chronic Candidiasis: altered intestinal flora, dietary factors, reduced digestive secretions, or a depressed immune system.
Altered intestinal flora leaves the intestinal wall susceptible to Candida overgrowth. The primary reasons for altered intestinal flora is the use of antibiotics, birth control pills, or
steroid medications (Lipski, 2005). These medications kill the bacteria in the large intestine that is controlling the candida population thus allowing the candida colonies to take over. These large colonies of candida damage the intestinal lining which may lead to leaky gut and multiple food allergies.

Dietary factors such as high sugar diets promote candida overgrowth. The primary nutrient for candida is sugar, therefore high sugar diets feed candida and may lead to overgrowth. Nutrient deficiencies often found in the standard American diet may also affect the immune system as discussed below.

Secretions of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and pancreatic enzymes in the small intestine normally help keep candida controlled by creating prohibitive environments (Rubinstein etc). Decreased secretions may therefore allow candida growth.

A depressed immune system can also lead to Candida overgrowth. There are many reasons that a person’s immune system could be compromised including the use of immunosuppressive drugs like corticosteroids, nutrient deficiencies, impaired liver function, or chronic disease. According to Murray (1997), people with candida overgrowth often have other chronic infections and while the immune system is weakened it will be difficult for a person to overcome any of these conditions.

The typical allopathic approach to treating chronic candida relies primarily on anti-yeast medications. A holistic approach begins by correcting any imbalances that may have contributed to the candida overgrowth, but may include anti-yeast medications or supplements as part of treatment. The difference between these approaches is that the anti-yeast medications are a short-term solution and may not protect from another candida overgrowth situation. The holistic approach involves lifestyle and diet changes to keep the yeast under control in the short and long term. The steps below outline a typical holistic approach to candida, although it will certainly vary by client and by practitioner. These steps are adapted from Murray’s approach proposed in Chronic Candidiasis.

Step 1: Identify and address predisposing factors.
With a physician’s guidance, discontinue use of antibiotics, birth control pills, as well as steroids and other immune-suppressing drugs.

A hydrochloric acid test or a step-wise increase in HCL supplementation can determine whether decreased HCL is a factor. Murray (1997) outlines this process on page 36 of Chronic Candidiasis. If a client has decreased HCL secretions, HCL supplements can be taken during a meal.

A CSDA can provide information as to whether adequate protease is being produced and pancreatic enzyme supplements are available if needed. Even if the CSDA does not report decreased enzyme secretion, pancreatic enzyme supplements may help with food allergies associated with candida by more thoroughly digesting food (Murray, 1997).

Step 2: Follow a candida control diet.
In general, consuming a whole foods diet comprised of organic produce and naturally raised animal products will provide maximum nutritional support thus providing the body with the means to heal itself. A whole foods diet will not contain additives, toxins, or processed ingredients thus allocating more time and nutritional resources to healing instead of removing harmful substances from the body. The candida control diet excludes three categories of food that I have detailed at the end of this step.

Vegetables should be the primary food while on the candida control diet. Vegetables are nutrient rich, provide antioxidants to support the liver and immune system, and contain fiber which will help keep move the bowels and clear toxins from the body. Almost all vegetables are included in the diet and should be consumed with every meal and snack. The only exception is mushrooms which are a fungus (see Exclusion #3). Potatoes, winter squash, and sweet potatoes tend to raise blood sugar quickly and should be eaten only in combination with other vegetables and a protein.

Grass-fed animal protein, pastured eggs, and sustainable seafood should be consumed daily to boost the immune system and nourish the body with nutrients only available from animal sources. Small amounts of animal fats are welcome in the diet. While most dairy is not allowed (see Exclusion #1); butter, ghee, and homemade yogurt that has fermented 24 hours contain no lactose and may be included.

Whole grains and legumes may be consumed, however breads and other processed grains contain simple sugars and should be avoided (see Exclusion #1). Raw, soaked or sprouted nuts and seeds are wonderfully nutritious and may be included (although peanuts and cashews should be avoided due to their high mold content, see Exclusion #3).

Water is an important element of this diet as it plays a vital role in delivering nutrients to cells and removing toxins from the body. Ten to twelve 8 ounces glasses of water a day is usually adequate.

Exclusion #1: While supporting the body with whole foods, starve the candida by removing refined and simple sugars from diet. This includes added sugars such as sucrose, glucose, maltose, lactose, fructose, agave, maple syrup, honey, and corn syrup, as well as white flour, white rice, milk and other lactose containing dairy products, fruits, fruit juices, and high-sugar vegetables juices such as carrot juice.

Exclusion #2: Sufferers of chronic candida often have multiple food allergies. These allergies need to be identified through an elimination diet or an allergy test. Once identified, these foods should be avoided initially and dealt with once the candida overgrowth is controlled.

Exclusion #3: Many practitioners recommend avoiding foods containing mold and yeast such as yeasted breads, fermented beverages, vinegar, and cheese. Although these foods don’t cause candida growth, people with chronic candida sometimes develop yeast and fungi allergies, which can impede recovery (Crook, 1986).
Step 3: Provide nutritional support.
A candida control diet will provide the body with a full spectrum of nutrients. However, many clients may be suffering from years of malnutrition or malabsorption and it may take time to adjust their diet completely. To help fill nutritional deficiencies, clients should take a high-potency full-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement containing bioavailable nutrients. A good multi-vitamin will include several antioxidants, but additional vitamin C and E supplements may be appropriate as well. Essential fatty acids support cellular function and therefore whole body health. Although they are found in seafood, nuts, and seeds, a daily dose of cod liver oil or one tablespoon of flaxseed oil is also recommended.

Step 4: Support immune function.
A multifaceted approach is the best way to reestablishing proper immune function. While the candida control diet will provide necessary nutrients, stress and poor diet are usually the largest factors contributing to a depressed immune system (Murray, 1997). High levels of stress can impact immune function as well as nutrient absorption. If a candida sufferer is dealing with stress it will be important to remove stressors or learn to manage them. Daily deep breathing, relaxation exercises, and adequate sleep will support stress reduction and therefore increased immunity. In addition, research has shown that moderate exercise will also stimulate the immune system (Lutack & Bongiorno, 2006). Murray (1997) suggests at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise four times per week.

Step 5: Take probiotics.
As candida is starved out or otherwise removed from the large intestine, we want health-promoting flora to replace them. A probiotic will provide a constant stream of these flora.

Step 6: Use appropriate anti-yeast therapy.
There are two main approaches to anti-yeast therapy: natural anti-yeast agents and prescription anti-yeast agents. Doctor’s Data (2011) is a clinical laboratory that provides stool analysis as well as helpful information regarding the effectiveness of several of
these agents. They have found the natural anti-yeast agents berberine, caprylic acid, tannic acid, and citrus seed extract to be the most effective. Lipski (2005) also adds garlic to this list. Doctor’s Data has also found nystatin, a prescription antifungal not absorbed into the body, to be effective as well as several prescription azole antifungals.

When the candida fungus dies it produces toxins that may aggravate symptoms initially. This “die-off” may be controlled a bit by following steps 1-5 for about two weeks prior to introducing an anti-yeast agent. Die-off will be more apparent in severe cases, so in the case of a more mild overgrowth, this two week window may be skipped or shortened.

Candida albicans may be difficult to diagnose initially if a practitioner is not aware of the diversity of symptoms associated with the fungus. However, once recognized and controlled, diet and lifestyle changes can keep candida overgrowth from recurring and will promote general good health thus keeping other diseases at bay as well.

References

Crook, William. The Yeast Connection: A Medical Breakthrough. (1986). Vintage Books: New York.

Doctor’s Data. (2011). Sample Patient: Yeast profile. Retrieved May 17, 2011, from http://www.doctorsdata.com/repository.asp?id=2255

Lipski, Elizabeth. Digestive Wellness (3rd Edition). (2005). McGraw Hill: New York.

Lutack, B. & Bongiorno, P. (2006). The exercise prescription. In Pizzorno, J. & Murray, M. (Eds.) Textbook of Natural Medicine (3rd Edition). Churchill Livingstone: St Louis.

Murray, M. Chronic Candidiasis. (1997). Three Rivers Press: New York.

Rubinstein, E., Mark, Z., Haspel, J., Ben-Ari, G., Dreznik, K., Mirelman, D., & Tadmor, A. (1985). Antibacterial activity of the pancreatic fluid. Gastroenterology, 88(4), 927-32.

Trowbridge, J.P. & Walker, M. The Yeast Syndrome. (1986). Bantam Books: New York.

Game Plan for Eating


Here are the things that I have blended together that have really worked from the different diets and all the study on healthy eating.

I kept the oatmeal in the mornings from the Gerson plan.  I use steel cut organic oats (ordered online), soaked overnight with a little lemon juice or vinegar to break down the phytic acid.  I add ground flaxseed when I eat it– a couple of heaping tablespoons a day to add fiber.  Flaxseed does not do well with heat—it breaks down and is no longer good for your body.  It must be used raw.  Also, I use an alternative to dairy, like almond milk.  I make sure it is not sweetened.  As of yet, I have not ventured to make my own nut milk.

The mainstay of my diet is organic veggies.  I don’t eat potatoes, sweet potatoes or corn as these are very high on the glycemic index.  Generally speaking it is best to keep your blood glucose level down as cancer loves sugar.  In the Gerson diet, they recommend no meat or fish on the premise that protein feeds cancer.  I found I could not function without protein–my energy was at sub-basement level.  So I added a  little wild caught fish.  I still try to keep it down to 10% or less of my diet.  I eat fruits, organic when possible, but try to minimize the super sweet ones as they contribute to higher blood sugar plus they make the body more acidic.  Also acidifying to the body are meats and grains, so I stay away from those.  This is a recent change.  It may just be necessary for me as I have blood sugar level problems and a strong genetic predisposition towards diabetes.

Nuts are fine if they are soaked overnight so that they are sprouted.  Gerson does not allow them because of the fat, however eating sprouted almonds keeps me sane with all the other restrictions.  I sprout a small amount each night so that they don’t spoil.  The healthiest nuts are almonds and walnuts.  Raw almonds are pretty easy to find in grocery stores.  Roasted nuts cannot be sprouted.  Peanuts are not the best nuts because they tend to have a lot of molds from the storage process.  Organic  nuts are best if you can find them.

Juicing provides lots of nutrients plus live enzymes of which people with chronic diseases (like cancer, fibromyalgia, lupus, etc) have special need.  These are a very powerful weapon for fighting disease and growing healthy tissue.  They are building blocks for healthy cells.  Using a variety of veggies and minimal fruits in your juice is a good idea, but getting to that point is best done in stages.

Cooked veggies are easier to digest so soups and stir fried dinners are a great addition.  Smoothies are also easier to digest, so these are also good for a healing body.  Eating asparagus often, either cooked or raw, is extremely alkalizing for the body (which is good).  Cancer loves acid and hates alkaline.

Bone broth from organic pasture raised livestock, specifically chickens, seems like a great way to get minerals. My body does not seems to do well with pork or beef.  When I make it I skim off all the fat after it has cooled.

If I absolutely have a need for sweetener, I use stevia which has an unpleasant aftertaste.  I hide this by adding the tiniest bit of honey.

I also take daily probiotic (Klaire Labs Therabiotic Complete Powder) which has made my life so much better.  And I take a daily dose of Norwegian cod liver oil.  Supplements are constantly changing based on what I have read or what Jen, my nutritionist daughter in law, tells me.  Fairly constant are a multivitamin made from food sources, vitamin C, selenium, Co Q 10, kelp, biotin, alpha lipoic acid, niacin and now vitamin E.

Another wonderful source of probiotics are Bubbie’s pickles and sauerkraut and King’s Kim Chi.  These are available at some grocery stores.  Jewel ordered them in for me.

Good snacks are apple or celery slices with nut butter.  Avocados are not allowed on the Gerson diet but if I am desperately needing fat, they fill the bill.  I have noticed when I eat more fats, the night sweats, which are a symptom of cancer, increase. Gerson may be right– eating fat may not be a great idea.

Decaf green teas are healing and spices are generally good.  Jalapeno peppers are rumored to help fight cancer which makes sense to me because they increase blood flow, thereby oxygenating.  Cancer hates oxygen.  That is why exercise is one of the most powerful things you can do to fight cancer.

Now, if things look good with the lumps on Friday, we will see if this diet has helped.

Summary of My Choices and What I Would Do Differently


This week I discovered a bunch of lumps in my pectoral muscles and also between the implants and both clavicles (collar bones). Initially, I thought there were just a few lumps, but either they kept increasing in number or I missed palpating some. This coming Friday, June 3, I will see the oncologist. I have had non-cancerous lumps before, and prayerfully these are also.

However, there have been changes in my lifestyle since I had the last MRI that showed the lymphoma was shrinking:

1.) I started wearing a bra again, even at night, because the alloderm holding my implants in place is deteriorating. In my vanity, I was trying to make the implants last as long as possible. However, bra wearing decreases lymphatic flow which in turn decreases healing and detoxifying of the tissues. See my paper in this blog on this subject.

2.) I also relaxed significantly in my diet, so much so, that after our trip to Ireland my blood sugar went to above the normal range.

3.) I included meat in my diet– quality, free range meat, but still meat. In retropect,I think good quality meat is fine for healthy people, but those with chronic disease may not be able to handle the acidifying effects that meat has on the body.

I am blogging about this in order to encourage others to stay the course in changing your lifestyle in factors which may have contributed to disease. Again, I am not saying that diet heals. God heals, but bad diet and lifestyle can prevent health from lasting.

Here is a summary of the actions that I would do the same or do differently based upon my experiences.

1.) I would do the mastectomies right off the bat, and I would not do radiation or reconstruction.

2.) I would do the Gerson diet until the cancer is gone with very few modifications. I would take out all grains like the GAPS diet. I would do serious probiotics as recommended in the GAPs and Clean diet. I would eat no beef, chicken or pork, minimal fish, and no simple carbs like sugar. I would do organic veggies and fruits as much as possible as well as small amounts of wild caught fish.

3.) I would do my adventure with cancer as a spiritual journey with Jesus knowing that he would have blessings and gifts for me in the process Never has anything in my life gifted me or grown me like this interlude with cancer. Because of all that my Lord carried me through, I know that I know that I know Jesus loves me forever. Nothing will ever take that from me.

4.) I would detox my life spiritually, physically and mentally. “Simplify, purify and be transparent,” would describe my lifestyle.

5.) I would make decisions based more on health and less on vanity.

6.) I would find ways to eat my chosen way without being drawn into social eating or compromise. In truth, I still have not figured this one out–nor have I found a way to travel and eat in a way that is consistent with my diet plan.

Blessings to each one who reads this– hold firm. The most important part is staying the course with Jesus. You can make every other decision wrong except for the choice to belong to Him. If you belong to Him, it will all turn out for the good. It is a promise that you can build your life upon– an eternal life. />

Table Comparing Components of Healing Diets


Here is a link with a very cursory listing of diet components in various diets that are designed  to heal.

Candida Albicans–Yeast Infections


This is a paper done by Jennifer McLaughlin who will soon have her master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition.  It is so comprehensive and practical that you will understand it like you never have before.  Enjoy!

Assignment 1: Research Report: Candida

Candida albicans is a fungus that is commonly found in the digestive tract. In a healthy situation this fungus causes no problems or symptoms and is controlled by friendly bacteria, our immune system, and intestinal pH. But if any of these control mechanisms are compromised, the candida may begin to multiply and spread. Candida albicans produces toxins, and as candida colonies increase in number and size, the quantities of toxin increase as well. Lipski (2005) describes how these toxins are absorbed into the blood stream and affect our immune system, hormone balance, and thought processes causing an amazing variety of systemic symptoms that vary by individual.

Trowbridge and Walker (1986) describe the symptoms of Candidiasis as “feeling bad all over.”  The list of major symptoms is long and includes multiple food allergies, fatigue, depression, poor memory, erratic vision, achy muscles or joints, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, vaginal itch or burning, menstrual irregularities, loss of sexual desire or impotence, as well as prostatitis or endometriosis (Murray, 1997).

There are several candida questionnaires available that allow a quick and simple analysis of whether candida may be responsible for the poor health of an individual. Murray (1997), Crook (1986), and Lipski (2005) have similar questionnaires. Based on an individual’s responses to a series of questions regarding medical history and symptoms, the questionnaires interpret the results in terms of the likelihood that their health problems are yeast-connected. Although the questionnaires are certainly quick, easy, and useful; they do not provide a confirmed diagnosis. If an individual and their practitioner decide that they would like to confirm the diagnosis or simply tract the presence of candida through the treatment, a comprehensive stool and digestive analysis (CSDA) can provide this and other information that may help guide the treatment plan.

There are four primary factors that may lead to Chronic Candidiasis: altered intestinal flora, dietary factors, reduced digestive secretions, or a depressed immune system.

Altered intestinal flora leaves the intestinal wall susceptible to Candida overgrowth. The primary reasons for altered intestinal flora is the use of antibiotics, birth control pills, or

steroid medications (Lipski, 2005). These medications kill the bacteria in the large intestine that is controlling the candida population thus allowing the candida colonies to take over. These large colonies of candida damage the intestinal lining which may lead to leaky gut and multiple food allergies.

Dietary factors such as high sugar diets promote candida overgrowth. The primary nutrient for candida is sugar, therefore high sugar diets feed candida and may lead to overgrowth. Nutrient deficiencies often found in the standard American diet may also affect the immune system as discussed below.

Secretions of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and pancreatic enzymes in the small intestine normally help keep candida controlled by creating prohibitive environments (Rubinstein etc). Decreased secretions may therefore allow candida growth.

A depressed immune system can also lead to Candida overgrowth. There are many reasons that a person’s immune system could be compromised including the use of immunosuppressive drugs like corticosteroids, nutrient deficiencies, impaired liver function, or chronic disease. According to Murray (1997), people with candida overgrowth often have other chronic infections and while the immune system is weakened it will be difficult for a person to overcome any of these conditions.

The typical allopathic approach to treating chronic candida relies primarily on anti-yeast medications. A holistic approach begins by correcting any imbalances that may have contributed to the candida overgrowth, but may include anti-yeast medications or supplements as part of treatment. The difference between these approaches is that the anti-yeast medications are a short-term solution and may not protect from another candida overgrowth situation. The holistic approach involves lifestyle and diet changes to keep the yeast under control in the short and long term. The steps below outline a typical holistic approach to candida, although it will certainly vary by client and by practitioner. These steps are adapted from Murray’s approach proposed in Chronic Candidiasis.

Step 1: Identify and address predisposing factors.

With a physician’s guidance, discontinue use of antibiotics, birth control pills, as well as steroids and other immune-suppressing drugs.

A hydrochloric acid test or a step-wise increase in HCL supplementation can determine whether decreased HCL is a factor. Murray (1997) outlines this process on page 36 of Chronic Candidiasis. If a client has decreased HCL secretions, HCL supplements can be taken during a meal.

A CSDA can provide information as to whether adequate protease is being produced and pancreatic enzyme supplements are available if needed. Even if the CSDA does not report decreased enzyme secretion, pancreatic enzyme supplements may help with food allergies associated with candida by more thoroughly digesting food (Murray, 1997).

Step 2: Follow a candida control diet. 

In general, consuming a whole foods diet comprised of organic produce and naturally raised animal products will provide maximum nutritional support thus providing the body with the means to heal itself. A whole foods diet will not contain additives, toxins, or processed ingredients thus allocating more time and nutritional resources to healing instead of removing harmful substances from the body. The candida control diet excludes three categories of food that I have detailed at the end of this step.

Vegetables should be the primary food while on the candida control diet. Vegetables are nutrient rich, provide antioxidants to support the liver and immune system, and contain fiber which will help keep move the bowels and clear toxins from the body. Almost all vegetables are included in the diet and should be consumed with every meal and snack. The only exception is mushrooms which are a fungus (see Exclusion #3). Potatoes, winter squash, and sweet potatoes tend to raise blood sugar quickly and should be eaten only in combination with other vegetables and a protein.

Grass-fed animal protein, pastured eggs, and sustainable seafood should be consumed daily to boost the immune system and nourish the body with nutrients only available from animal sources. Small amounts of animal fats are welcome in the diet. While most dairy is not allowed (see Exclusion #1); butter, ghee, and homemade yogurt that has fermented 24 hours contain no lactose and may be included.

Whole grains and legumes may be consumed, however breads and other processed grains contain simple sugars and should be avoided (see Exclusion #1). Raw, soaked or sprouted nuts and seeds are wonderfully nutritious and may be included (although peanuts and cashews should be avoided due to their high mold content, see Exclusion #3).

Water is an important element of this diet as it plays a vital role in delivering nutrients to cells and removing toxins from the body. Ten to twelve 8 ounces glasses of water a day is usually adequate.

Exclusion #1: While supporting the body with whole foods, starve the candida by removing refined and simple sugars from diet. This includes added sugars such as sucrose, glucose, maltose, lactose, fructose, agave, maple syrup, honey, and corn syrup, as well as white flour, white rice, milk and other lactose containing dairy products, fruits, fruit juices, and high-sugar vegetables juices such as carrot juice.

Exclusion #2: Sufferers of chronic candida often have multiple food allergies. These allergies need to be identified through an elimination diet or an allergy test. Once identified, these foods should be avoided initially and dealt with once the candida overgrowth is controlled.

Exclusion #3: Many practitioners recommend avoiding foods containing mold and yeast such as yeasted breads, fermented beverages, vinegar, and cheese. Although these foods don’t cause candida growth, people with chronic candida sometimes develop yeast and fungi allergies, which can impede recovery (Crook, 1986).

Step 3: Provide nutritional support.

A candida control diet will provide the body with a full spectrum of nutrients. However, many clients may be suffering from years of malnutrition or malabsorption and it may take time to adjust their diet completely. To help fill nutritional deficiencies, clients should take a high-potency full-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement containing bioavailable nutrients. A good multi-vitamin will include several antioxidants, but additional vitamin C and E supplements may be appropriate as well. Essential fatty acids support cellular function and therefore whole body health. Although they are found in seafood, nuts, and seeds, a daily dose of cod liver oil or one tablespoon of flaxseed oil is also recommended.

Step 4: Support immune function.

A multifaceted approach is the best way to reestablishing proper immune function. While the candida control diet will provide necessary nutrients, stress and poor diet are usually the largest factors contributing to a depressed immune system (Murray, 1997). High levels of stress can impact immune function as well as nutrient absorption. If a candida sufferer is dealing with stress it will be important to remove stressors or learn to manage them. Daily deep breathing, relaxation exercises, and adequate sleep will support stress reduction and therefore increased immunity. In addition, research has shown that moderate exercise will also stimulate the immune system (Lutack & Bongiorno, 2006). Murray (1997) suggests at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise four times per week.

Step 5: Take probiotics.

As candida is starved out or otherwise removed from the large intestine, we want health-promoting flora to replace them. A probiotic will provide a constant stream of these flora.

Step 6: Use appropriate anti-yeast therapy.

There are two main approaches to anti-yeast therapy: natural anti-yeast agents and prescription anti-yeast agents. Doctor’s Data (2011) is a clinical laboratory that provides stool analysis as well as helpful information regarding the effectiveness of several of

these agents. They have found the natural anti-yeast agents berberine, caprylic acid, tannic acid, and citrus seed extract to be the most effective. Lipski (2005) also adds garlic to this list. Doctor’s Data has also found nystatin, a prescription antifungal not absorbed into the body, to be effective as well as several prescription azole antifungals.

When the candida fungus dies it produces toxins that may aggravate symptoms initially. This “die-off” may be controlled a bit by following steps 1-5 for about two weeks prior to introducing an anti-yeast agent. Die-off will be more apparent in severe cases, so in the case of a more mild overgrowth, this two week window may be skipped or shortened.

Candida albicans may be difficult to diagnose initially if a practitioner is not aware of the diversity of symptoms associated with the fungus. However, once recognized and controlled, diet and lifestyle changes can keep candida overgrowth from recurring and will promote general good health thus keeping other diseases at bay as well.

References

Crook, William. The Yeast Connection: A Medical Breakthrough. (1986). Vintage Books: New York.

Doctor’s Data. (2011). Sample Patient: Yeast profile. Retrieved May 17, 2011, from http://www.doctorsdata.com/repository.asp?id=2255

Lipski, Elizabeth. Digestive Wellness (3rd Edition). (2005). McGraw Hill: New York.

Lutack, B. & Bongiorno, P. (2006). The exercise prescription. In Pizzorno, J. & Murray, M. (Eds.) Textbook of Natural Medicine (3rd Edition). Churchill Livingstone: St Louis.

Murray, M. Chronic Candidiasis. (1997). Three Rivers Press: New York.

Rubinstein, E., Mark, Z., Haspel, J., Ben-Ari, G., Dreznik, K., Mirelman, D., & Tadmor, A. (1985). Antibacterial activity of the pancreatic fluid. Gastroenterology, 88(4), 927-32.

Trowbridge, J.P. & Walker, M. The Yeast Syndrome. (1986). Bantam Books: New York.


Links About Pastured Animals vs. Those Sold by Agribusinesses


I have been trying to be vegetarian for the 4 years since being diagnosed with cancer.  Here is a different slant on meat.  I still am trying to keep meat to a minimum but when I have it, I search for good quality.  You pay more on the front end but less at the doctor’s office.  This is from a website of a farm selling pastured meat.
Links

Eat Wild – www.eatwild.com – Eatwild.com provides up-to-date information about the benefits of raising livestock on pasture. You will see why pasture-raised animals are better for the animals, the environment, the farmer, and your health.

Weston A. Price Foundation – www.westonaprice.org – “The Weston A. Price Foundation is a non-profit, tax exempt charity founded in 1999 to disseminate the research of nutrition pioneer Dr. Weston Price, whose studies of isolated non-industrialized peoples established the parameters of human health and determined the optimum characteristics of human diets. Dr. Prices’ research demonstrated that humans achieve perfect physical form and perfect health generation after generation only when they consume nutrient dense whole foods and the vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats.

A Campaign For Real Milk – www.realmilk.com – If you want to find out more about the nutritional benefits of drinking raw unpasturized milk and eating products made with raw milk, this is the sight for you. The sight features research and news updates, suggested readings, as well as where you can find real milk products.

Althernatives To Intensive Confinement For Farm Animals –www.awionline.org/farm/alt-farming.html – This up-to-date bibliography provides practical published information for consumers who are concerned about factory farming and are seeking for alternatives.

Grace Factory Farm Project – www.factoryfarm.org – The Grace Factory Farm Project’s goal is to shift away from factory farming and replace it with a sustainable food production system that is healthful and humane, economically viable, and environmentally sound. They provide information on the environment, economical, and social impacts these farms have locally, nationally, and globally, plus their effects on the animal’s and farm worker’s health.


Farm To Table – 
www.farmtotable.org – 
Although based in New York state and is mostly used to link in-state producers and consumers, it has great features for everyone. It has current news articles, recipes a large selection of books, and an extensive listing of links to various educational and organization web-sites.

 These were compiled by Eric Rubel at Crossroads Farms in Belmont Ohio.

Here is an article by him from his website.

Crossroads Farm
45021 Belmont-Centerville Road
Belmont, OH 43718
(740) 686-2153
ericjayrubel@yahoo.com

Comparison of Diets Promoting Health


This is a brief summary.  I will do an element by element breakdown in chart form when I have more time.

Dr. Lorraine Day-- Eat organic vegan, no processed food, as much raw as possible, no dairy, no eggs, no sugar, low grains.  Do fresh juicing.  Stay away from medicines, chemo and radiation.  No end point to this diet.  She does not recommend supplements.  She had stage 4 breast cancer and beat it.  She also includes other practices like exercise, prayer, cleaning out the toxins from your environment and other disciplines.

Dr. Max Gerson– Eat vegetarian, no salt, low sugar, low fat, low grains.  Both raw and cooked.  Includes frequent fresh juicing, vegetable stews, supplements and coffee enemas.  Stay away from foods that are common allergens, like berries and wheat.  No eggs or dairy.  Very regimented and difficult diet.  It is recommended for a limited amount of time –3 years or so then is less rigid.  It also recommends other life style changes like detoxifying your cleaning cabinet and make up.

Hulda Clark’s program–This is a very complicated way to address parasites through eating, supplements, teas, and zapping (which I will not even attempt to explain).  She feels that parasites are a large component in causation of cancer.

Asparagus diet–  Eat asparagus daily to de-acidify your body.

Lemon diet–Eat lemons as they are anticarcinogens.

Jalapeno diet– Eat jalopenos every day as the populations that do this have lower rates of cancer.

Block Diet–by Dr. Keith Block– Eat vegetarian for the most part, low fat, high in raw content, low in sugar, low in processed foods.  Use supplements.  Exercise.  Create an environment that is conducive to healing and not to cancer.

Clean diet by Dr. Alejandro Junger–  Do periodic 3 week long cleanses. ( once or twice a year, or more if desired).   These include foods that alkalize the body for the most part, in raw, juiced and smoothie forms except one meal a day.  This meal is  to be in the middle of the day.  He advises the elimination diet which is a very restricted list of foods that you can have which are for the most part alkalizing.  He eliminates grains, common allergens, most meats and most fat.  The idea is to make the food easy to digest as well as alkalizing so that your body can focus on detoxing.  The really crux of his diet is giving your body a long period of rest every day without having to digest so that toxins can be ejected.  There is no eating from dinner to breakfast.  He has extensive recommendations on other ways to detox your life including meditation, exercise, and right thinking.

GAPS plan– Gut and Psychology Syndrome plan developed by Dr Natasha Campbell McBride.  This is the diet that I am currently on with some modifications.   It is my understanding that this diet is to correct the balance of good and bad flora in the gut and thereby achieve health in the other organs also.  It involves eating cooked veggies and broth made from boiling bones for many hours.  It also involves supplementation including probiotics in food and supplement form.  The idea is to let the inflammation in your gut heal by providing healing nutrients while also eating food which is easy to digest.  It is also a no sugar, processed food, dairy, grains, potatoes, or simple carbs diet.     http://www.gapsdiet.com/GAPS_Outline.html

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