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This article was either posted as a blog post or was published in an earlier edition of A Healthy You.

Baby Formula Shortage: Historical Perspective

May 16, 2022

Baby Formula Shortage: Historical Perspective

In 1986, when my oldest son was just a baby, I was advised by his pediatrician to feed him Isomil baby formula. The powdered formula container looked a bit different than the pictured one.  At the time, we used to pay around $10 per can.

My parents traveled to Panama after my Dad was released from Parkland Hospital in Dallas after an extensive stay in the Burn Unit (he sustained 1st, 2nd, & 3rd degree burns on 33% of his body on March 24, 1986). More on that later….

After my dad was released from the hospital, with numerous diagnoses and many pharmaceutical prescriptions, my Mom traveled with him to Panama to see their longtime naturopath, Professor Moreno (RIP). He took one look at my Dad’s chest and immediately prepared a calming concoction (from potatoes soaked in water) for him, as his skin was scaling off like fish scales and the itching he was suffering was intense. The concoction brought him immediate relief. He came back to Dallas with a detailed,  herb-based and nutritional protocol. Years later, his physicians were amazed at the lack of scarring on his chest. The discoloration of his skin, so typical of burn areas, was also gone.

Back to the story about the baby formula.

As Professor Moreno developed the required protocol,  Mom walked around the natural food store that was part of his clinic. She saw the same baby formula that  my son used on the shelf at $2.50/can and remarked to the cashier that her daughter (me) was paying around $10/can. So, as was my parents’ habit, they bought an entire case and brought it back to Dallas. Mom actually got a by-the-case discount!!! Their journey back to Dallas was interesting, as they had some issues with customs officials.  They successfully  arrived in Dallas with the case of baby formula.

The baby formula that I received as a gift from my parents was manufactured in Europe (I seem to remember that it was from Switzerland, but I’ve slept since then). Same manufacturer (Abbott Labs). I proceeded to call the customer service department to inquire as to why there was such a HUGE difference in cost for the same baby formula sold in Panama (import costs, travel costs, etc…) than those sold in the United States (manufactured in the U.S.).

My inquiry was transferred up the line, until I was transferred to the top honcho (President’s office). I never did receive an answer.

Ask yourself:

  • Why is baby formula a pharmaceutical product?
  • Is it coincidental that in June of 2020 Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg, & Jeff Bezos invested in lab-produced breast milk (BIOMILQ) to prevent effects of ‘Climate Change’ ? (See article)
  • Why is baby formula available at border detention centers while US experiences a shortage? (see another article) IMPORTANT NOTE:  The first article link:   https://nypost.com/2022/05/12/border-detention-center-has-baby-formula-amid-shortage-photos/ does not work when you click on it. However, if you search for it on Duck Duck Go, you can open the page. Ask yourself: why this information is being censored? I have saved PDF copies of the article, just in case.
  • What did parents feed their babies in the 1960’s? (If unable or unwilling to breast-feed?). Here’s a screenshot of a Reddit post:

 

I am not a doctor and I am NOT RECOMMENDING anything or offering advice. I began questioning the role of pharmaceutical companies and our food supplies long ago. (Re: Same food labels sold in Europe often have different ingredients that those sold in America). I feel empathy and compassion for moms that are in fear and upset at the current political and manufactured shenanigans. I do trust Weston Price Foundation‘s recipe for homemade baby formula.

Here is a screenshot for a homemade baby formula recipe from Weston A. Price.

Source: https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/childrens-health/formula-homemade-baby-formula/

I do not understand why sunflower oil is used. If I were a young mom today, I’d find a substitute for this ingredient by contacting the Weston Price Foundation and asking about it. They have other recipes for babies as well.

All in all, my advice to you is to QUESTION EVERYTHING and follow the money.

Did You Know? The Kaimowitz Case Applies the Nuremberg Code to COVID-19 Vaccinations

July 27, 2021

Read the Article by Peter R. Breggin MD and Ginger R. Breggin

Title: Nuremberg Code Against Nazi Experiments Should Stop Further COVID-19 Vaccinations

Excerpt: This report examines COVID-19 vaccinations in light of the principles established by the Nuremberg Code, an ethical standard for scientific research developed by the judges in the Nazi War Crimes Trials after World War II.  The Nuremberg Code (1949) (wayne.edu)

Note: This morning, I tried to post this via the WordPress App. It failed to post. I also tried to post the article in a discussion on the NextDoor app. Both times, I obtained a popup which leads me to. believe that the subject matter is being censored. I’ll post about the specifics in the near future.

In case the article link does not work, I’ve downloaded a PDF of the article. Contact me to request the pdf copy.

Did You Know? Soros & Gates are Buying U.K. Maker of Covid Tests

July 26, 2021
 · No Comments

Did You Know? Soros & Gates are Buying U.K. Maker of Covid Tests

Headline: George Soros and Bill Gates’ Backed Consortium To Buy U.K. Maker of Covid Tests for $41 Million – Source Forbes’ David Dawkins

Your Finances and the Covid-19 Injection – How are they related?

March 15, 2021

Your Finances and the Covid-19 Injection – How are they related?

I was recently listening to a financial podcast where the host mentioned that the beneficiaries of a person that has died within a year of having the Covid-19 injection may not be entitled to the life insurance funds in the victim’s policy. I did a double take when I heard this.

I am certainly NOT a financial adviser. Please do your research.

Here’s a tool that might help you navigate the facts around the Covid-19 injections currently being administered. (A downloadable PDF is also available).

We discussed this on today’s episode of Cafecito Break. (Listen to today’s podcast).

Blessings!!! Stay Healthy!!!

 

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

November 5, 2020

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This post will be a repository for information that I uncover regarding the current US Presidential Election. I will continue to update it as I uncover information. #Election #VoterFraud #Discern #Constitution #RuleOfLaw #CafecitoBreak

Click to Tweet

source: Twitter

STING!!!! BOOM!

New Judicial Watch Study Finds 353 U.S. Counties in 29 States with Voter Registration Rates Exceeding 100%

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that a September 2020 study revealed that 353 U.S. counties had 1.8 million more registered voters than eligible voting-age citizens. In other words, the registration rates of those counties exceeded 100% of eligible voters. The study found eight states showing state-wide registration rates exceeding 100%: Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont. - Read Article

 

Sharpie-Gate Lawsuit Filed. How to report Voter Fraud

IMPORTANT!!! See Lawsuit screenshot Below.

President Trump’s lawyers want those people, who used the sharpies, to call 1-800-684-3110. Leave name, state & polling station.

If you were a victim or witness of Voter Fraud, there are organizations that are investigating.  MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. PROTECT ELECTION INTEGRITY & THE RULE OF LAW. SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!

Election-crime complaints should be directed to the local U.S. Attorney’s Offices or the local FBI office.  A list of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and their telephone numbers can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao/find-your-united-states-attorney.  A list of FBI offices and accompanying telephone numbers can be found at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us.

Email us at veritastips@protonmail.com or call us at 914-653-3110. Message us on Signal, Telegram or Wire at 914-653-3110.

  • FBI
  • FEC (Federal Elections Commission)
  • Justice Department
  • Project Veritas - Send a Tip 
  • Judicial Watch - Get involved. Sign Petitions. They're fighting for us.

Stop The Steal

HELP STOP
VOTER SUPPRESSION,
IRREGULARITIES
ANND FRAUD.

TELL US WHAT YOU ARE SEEING.

REPORT A CASE:

http://djt45.com/stopfraud
888-630-1776

Source

Source: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Source: Twitter

Source of Election Results Map Data Matters

November 5, 2020

Download PDF of Twitter Thread

 

CLICK BELOW TO READ ON TWITTER

#BREAKING #BREAKINGNEWS
🚨💥💥🚨🚨💥💥🚨🚨💥
MASSIVE ELECTION FRAUD You’ve ALL BE SCAMMED!
The Whole Thing is a PROJECTION POLL Given to ENTIRE Mainstream Media by ONE COMPANY Working For the #GatesFoundation! HOLY SHIT! EdisonResearch THIS IS CRIME!! @OANN @ChanelRion @HawleyMO pic.twitter.com/IA3lBTy9Qc

— Alpha OmegaEnergy (@AOECOIN) November 4, 2020

Remembering the Victims of September 11, 2001 Attack

September 11, 2020
 · No Comments
Photo by lex on Unsplash

Remembering the Victims of September 11, 2001

@POTUS KNOWS. It's hard to be patient while the TRUTH is being revealed to all who wish to become AWARE. I patiently wait & #PRAY: FOR THE #VICTIMS. FALLEN #HEROES. OUR #COUNTRY. OUR #WORLD.MAY G-D #BLESS #AMERICA! @AE911truth

Click to Tweet

Our Presidents KNOWS. He’s known the TRUTH since Day ONE!  It’s hard to be patient while the TRUTH is being revealed to all who wish to become AWARE.  I patiently wait. I PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS. I PRAY FOR THE FALLEN HEROES. I PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY. I PRAY FOR OUR WORLD. G-D BLESS AMERICA!

"As family members of 9/11 victims, we have been seeking truth and transparency since 2001. We must applaud Mr. Gage and his colleagues at AE911Truth for their tenacity in seeking to answer lingering questions concerning the total destruction of World Trade Center Buildings 1, 2, and 7."

— Patty Casazza, Lorie Van Auken, Mindy Kleinberg, Monica Gabrielle | Read More

I signed the petition. Will you???

Racial Equality, Justice, and Respect

June 28, 2020

Racial Equality, Justice, and Respect

  1. Respect is earned. It is not a Right.
  2. Racial equality is born from Respect. When we Respect each individual, there is, by default, Racial Equality.
  3. Racial Equality is not achieved from handouts “given” by politicians. We, as a society, don’t give athletes extra points or any advantage because of his/her race because we recognize that it would be unfair to all involved. The same should apply in the working environment and in the Justice System. Unfair laws only serve to create more separation and division.
  4. Laws cannot legislate RESPECT. RESPECT must be earned. Laws cannot legislate LOVE. LOVE must be freely given
  5. Solution: Support strong families. Children need parents. Fathers need to support & protect their families. They cannot do so if they are unjustly incarcerated.
  6. Solution: Stop incarcerating people for non-violent crimes. Stop the for-profit prison system. This amounts to legalized slavery.
  7. Solution: Eliminate corruption & indoctrination in public schools. Teach reading, writing, math, science. Journalism. THE BASICS. Teach about our Constitution. Teach Systems analysis & Debate. Get back to the scientific method.
  8. Solution: Do not reward laziness. Do not accept excuses. Empower our children with tools that will help them cope with challenges. Teach our children to take responsibility for their actions. Teach them to speak truth.
  9. Solution: Provide access to REAL FOOD in every community.
  10. Solution: Teach our children how to nourish, exercise, hydrate, and protect their bodies. Allow them to play. Allow them to spend time outdoors. Help them build a strong immune system. Do not force adulthood on them too quickly. Let them be children. Keep our children safe.
  11. Solution: There is NO excuse for homelessness. There are so many economical structures available for communities to create safe transitional housing for the poor or homeless. Why are structurally sound structures (e.g. – monolithic domes, tiny houses) not ALLOWED in many communities?
  12. We must end the practice of LOBBYING. Big business/unions are affecting how we ALL live by “FUNDING” politicians to do their bidding. END corruption. END conflict of Interest
  13. Solution: bring G0D back into our lives and into our communities. Ask G0D for support & strength. We/G0D alone are responsible for our position. We must learn to compete w/o excuses and be proud of who we are and what we accomplished and get back to God in the process if we want racial equality and to save this country before we are pushed into a Civil War.
  14. Solution: Freedom to earn a living. Teach our children skills & trades. Teach our children how to build, grow, & repair. Government hand-outs breed dependence, not independence. Strive for freedom. Strive for liberty.
  15. Solution: EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW. Racial equality means EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW. We are witnessing the protection of certain privileged individuals in the courts of law while poor and minority individuals are incarcerated, often without just cause, for crimes they did not commit.
  16. Solution: Stop idolizing athletes & Hollywood stars. Start treating everyday heroes with respect.

The Gift of the Crown

April 17, 2020

The Gift of the Crown

Do you believe that miracles can be brought to you through challenges and difficulties? I believe so. Now more than ever.

Almost everyone that I know is, or has been, affected by the Novel Coronavirus in one way or another. Our lives have changed drastically, almost overnight.

During our last Cafecito Break podcast (you can listen to it here), which was recorded on April 13th, 2020, Rosangel Perez & I traveled thru some dark terrifying ideas and theories around the Novel Corona Virus – COVID-19 pandemic that is currently affecting our world. We discussed things such as:

  • Chaos
  • The CDC
  • The World Health Organization
  • Big Tech
  • Politicians
  • Trust

Since then, I’ve received many messages about the topic that have nothing to do with the technicalities of this pandemic (number of deaths, politics, demographic data, logistics, etc…). These messages made me realize that there’s a lot more to this pandemic than meets the eye.

I have been researching a lot of behind-the-scene theories during the past couple of years. Due to my research, I do believe that there is a lot happening which is NOT discussed on mainstream media. I have also been quite calm since this whole craziness with COVID-19 began to make itself known to us. In the meantime, I have:

  • trusted that there is a Plan that will ultimately result in a better world for us all.
  • been very skeptical of the “news” that we are being given.
  • worked diligently at staying connected to my spiritual practice
  • done everything possible to stay healthy, safe, and calm.
  • stayed quite busy with my immediate family and have actually enjoyed being at home

From the beginning of this crisis, I have believed that we are in the midst of a major RESET: our families are spending time together and we are SLOWING down. We are having meals at home with our families again. We have time at home. We are being given an opportunity to reflect and reconnect with G-D.

I am blessed to have many human angels in my path. One of these angels is Dr. Gary Berman. He hosts regular Prayer & Meditation sessions and he teaches his students how to connect with their individual Spirit Center in order to discern the truth in any given situation. He recently shared a message he received from G0D about the Coronavirus with us, which included the following important suggestions:

  • Create an active prayer life (no specification).
  • Get back to daily gratitude that I (God) have given you another day of life.
  • Appreciate the people in your life as a gift from me (God).
  • Use your time on earth to find/follow your purpose and destiny and stop wasting time in worry and in pursuit of things that do not matter to your spirit nature (does not develop or feed it). Unless it is part of your purpose.
  • Know that I am the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (end). That I am the Lord God of hosts and to follow my teachings before I am forced to send the second judgment. (Note: No specifics about the nature of the second judgment).

I then received a text message from a longtime friend that was very disturbing to me. The text read something like this: That’s It! Our Country is Finished. We are now in the hands of FEMA. (Not the exact wording). I gave him a call, and after a long conversation, he mentioned the name of a Rabbi that he thought I might find interesting. I looked him up on YouTube and found one of his lectures, where he discussed the ongoing plague.

I totally resonated with what Rabbi Kessin said. Here is a summary of his discussion:

There is an obvious difference between this pandemic and previous pandemics such as the Bubonic Plague or the Spanish Flu. In previous pandemics, there was a HUGE loss of life (as a percentage of the worldwide population) as follows:

  • Bubonic plague in 1348 killed half of Europe. Central feature was death.
  • Spanish Flu in 1918 – 50 million died. Central feature was death.

Although we have tragically experienced sickness and a tremendous amount of suffering, along with a significant loss of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of those that have died or have been stricken in the US is 683,786 illnesses and at least 34,575 deaths (as of (4/17/20). There are approximately 330 million people in US. —> the objective of this plague is NOT death. This plague is not meant to wipe out tens of millions of people.

I share his opinion that:

  • this is not an accident. It’s an ACT OF G0D (the entire planet is affected).
  • G0D loves mankind and He never gives us a challenge without giving us a solution.
  • This is a necessary path to the Messianic Redemption

Three Major Features

Rabbi Kessin describes three major features of the corona virus pandemic:

  • 1st Major Feature – FEAR OF DEATH is global. There is tremendous anxiety. Everybody is frightened.
  • 2nd Major global feature – A global QUARANTINE that is painful to many people. We, as a society, cannot interact with each other.
  • 3rd Major Global feature – The global pandemic has caused an ECONOMIC COLLAPSE that has, in effect, STOPPED civilization. G0D has called forth a tiny virus that measures about 40 nanometers (you can’t see it with the naked eye or even a microscope. You need an electron microscope to see it to HALT CIVILIZATION in its tracks. This alone demonstrates the ABSOLUTE POWER OF G0D.

Divine Agenda

According to ancient scriptures, there will be a plague throughout the world prior to the Messianic Redemption, in a manner that is similar to the Exodus from Egypt and this plague is a necessary prerequisite to the Redemption. Coincidentally, we are experiencing this pandemic during a period of time that spans the Holiday of Purim, Passover, and Holy Week. For the first time EVER, we have not been able to worship together during these holy days.

There is tremendous fear and anxiety, as well as loss of many personal freedoms throughout the world. Rabbi Kessin explains that mankind has been destroying itself, that justice must be fulfilled before the redemption, and that G0D will only bring REDEMPTION after justice has been satisfied. In the meantime, Satan is acting as the prosecuting attorney against mankind and Satan has three major complaints against humanity:

  1. IMMORALITY: There exists an enormous amount of immorality, depravity, corruption, degeneration. Mankind is corrupting his own nature.
  2. TREMENDOUS HATRED – Destruction of civilization by mankind. Sinat Chinam (Baseless hatred). There is a tremendous amount of hatred present in the world. There is baseless slander and a total lack of unity among people within families, communities, countries, and especially towards our duly elected President.
  3. TREMENDOUS PURSUIT OF MATERIALISM & PHYSICALITY. A large majority of the world’s population is completely immersed in materialism, pleasure, physicality, and a very few, relatively speaking, is immersed in spirituality.

Rabbi Kessin beautifully describes the virus as a “Designer Drug” – a tailor-made tool that G0D is using to wake man up! He explains that it works with a three-pong approach:

  1. Fear of Death – provides an atonement for sins, especially immorality
  2. Quarantine – stops and prevents baseless hatred and slander from being spoken, and thus helps provide unity
  3. Reawakens mankind – transitory nature of materialism

This plague is providing all of us an opportunity to assist with the process of TIKKUN (Rectification of Nature) and RESTORATION (to bring G0D back into His Creation).

He describes several tools that G0d has given us for this purpose:

  • Doing Mitzvoth (commandments)
  • Teshuva (repentance)
  • Yissurim (suffering, if we don’t repent)

The Gift of the Crown

The word CORONA means CROWN. The purpose of the virus is to restore the Crown of THE KING. This pandemic is not merely an epidemic. It was given to us as a gift to satisfy the judgement of death and to stop the slander and create unity to allow the Messianic process to continue. It is a WAKE-UP call to stop with materialism and to focus on Spirit.

Here are some of Rabbi Kessin’s suggestions:

  • Do not speak, listen to, or believe gossip (slander).
  • Take time to study the Biblical texts.
  • Wake Up!
  • Focus on Spirituality.
  • Repent for your sins.

If we do that, we will be delivered into a beautiful world of Total Prosperity!

Blessings!

Please note that I plan to expand on each one of the following in upcoming blogposts. Here’s a link to Rabbi Kessin’s video.

Water – Its Blessings and Healing

March 30, 2020
 · 2 Comments

Water – Its Blessings and Healing

This article was first published on May 28, 2015. I am re-publishing with the intention of reviewing fundamentals of staying healthy during these stressful times.

Why is water so important?

Many of us are aware of the importance of drinking enough water. Getting our daily dose of water helps our organs perform their functions, keeps our skin clear and hydrated, and allows physical action in our bodies to flow smoothly. Even with this knowledge, it can still be challenging to drink all the water our bodies thirst for daily. Drinking plenty of water is critical. Those who are not drinking enough may experience poor digestion, sluggish thinking, skin breakouts, headaches, bad breath and general fatigue.

To start your day right, set a large glass of water by your bed each night and drink it when you wake up. Drinking water first thing in the morning pulls out toxins from the previous day and freshens your system for the day ahead. Keep a bottle of water accessible throughout the day, whether you are on the go or at a desk. Having a bottle of water close by will remind you to take a sip when thirsty. The first sip will usually let you know how much more water you need. A sip or two may be enough, or you may need a big glass. If you drink most of your daily water before early evening, you most likely will not be thirsty before bed. This is good, because drinking before bed and then waking to use the bathroom disturbs your peaceful night’s sleep.

Also, drinking tea or juice and eating raw fruits and vegetables, in addition to your daily water intake, contributes to the hydration process. When you are heading out for the day, automatically reach for your bottle of water. (To protect our environment, please consider using refillable water bottles).

How do you know if you are drinking enough water?

The color of our urine has been used as a tool for diagnosis since ancient times. Experienced health professionals can tell a lot about what’s happening in the human body by the color, density, and smell of the urine. I believe that physical observation is the first step towards understanding the health of our body systems. Education is empowerment. By understanding what’s happening in our body we can better partner with our health care practitioner to properly diagnose any illness.

Urine Color can be affected by what you eat, medicines you take, laxatives, what you drink, and any other injected or ingested substance. This information* is presented only as a guideline and is not intended to replace medical advice.

urine-color

  • No Color (Transparent) – You may be drinking too much water and may wish to cut back.
  • Pale Straw Color – Normal, healthy, well-hydrated
  • Transparent Yellow – Normal
  • Dark Yellow – Normal, but drink some water soon
  • Amber or Honey – Your body needs water. Drink some water now. It’s not getting enough.
  • Syrup or Brown Ale – This color may indicate liver disease or severe dehydration. Drink water and consult with your doctor.
  • Pink to Reddish – Have you eaten beets or blueberries lately? If not, you may have blood in your urine. It could be NOTHING or it could be a sign of a serious medical condition, such as: kidney disease, tumors, urinary tract infection,prostate problem, or something else. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR.
  • Orange – You may not be drinking enough water, have eaten something with a food dye, or you could have a liver or bile duct condition. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR.
  • Blue or Green – It’s probably something you ate that had a certain food dye. It could also be caused by certain rare genetic diseases or bacteria. PLEASE SEE YOUR DOCTOR IF IT PERSISTS.
  • Foaming or Fizzing – If this occurs occasionally, it’s probably harmless. But it COULD indicate excess protein in your urine. If you are seeing this often, please consult with your doctor.

Remember that you can see a lot from your urine but it does not replace the information you can get from a urinalysis. Get regular checkups. Blood in the urine is often invisible to the naked eye and elevated glucose levels in your urine may indicate diabetes.

But wait, there’s more….

As a Civil Engineer, I am cognizant of the expected population growth that will precipitate an increased demand for drinking water in the next 20 years. I am also very appreciative of the work that has been done to bring water to the population centers by the workers who actually built the water treatment and distribution systems that allow us to have potable water at our fingertips.

In one of his technical papers, Dr. Daniel A. Okun, Professor of Environmental Engineering, Emeritus at the Univ. of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, provided a brief history of how water was first brought to our cities.

“The introduction of piped water to cities in the mid-19th century led to the spread of cholera and typhoid in the United States and the other industrialized countries. Filtration and then chlorination around the turn of the century virtually eliminated waterborne enteric disease in the industrialized world. The development of synthetic organic chemicals following World War II and the recognition that chlorine, which is so important for disinfection, reacts with natural and other organic precursors in the water, producing carcinogenic byproducts, shifted the major emphasis in water quality in the industrial world away from infectious disease to a concern for control of trace chemical contaminants. The recent emergence of waterborne giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis is shifting emphasis back to a concern for the control of enteric infectious disease. Particularly troublesome is that water meeting current microbiological standards has been demonstrated to be responsible for diarrheal disease. The principal conclusion to be drawn from these changes is the affirmation of the original principles for the protection of drinking water quality, that water intended for potable purposes should be drawn from the highest quality sources available, that the sources should be protected, and that the treatment must be appropriate and reliable.”

Having said that, we have to bless the people who have built, operate and maintain our water treatment systems. We must also be aware of the damage that is done to the water crystals by the harsh chemicals and the actual transportation of the water through the pipes. That is why I’m so excited when I see the research of Dr. Masaru Emoto. He has proven, through research and technology, that music can actually correct distorted frequencies within water molecules.

For centuries, we have turned to classical music for relaxation and healing. In his book, Water Crystal Healing – Music and Images To Restore Your Well-Being, internationally acclaimed water researcher Dr. Masaru Emoto, presents an incredible collection of music and water-crystal photographs that have been found (through his research) to benefit those who suffer from common physical and emotional imbalances.

During his research, he discovered why certain music and thought patterns have healing benefits. What he found was that the rhythm, tempo, tone and melody of the music can actually correct distorted frequencies within the cells of our body. What is presented in his beautiful book is that the combination of images, words and music concentrates consciousness and provides a unique experience for healing.

As an Engineer, I am fascinated with the research methodology Dr. Emoto utilized. He used micro-cluster water and magnetic resonance analysis technology.

In his various books, the first of which was published in 1999, Dr. Emoto, a doctor of Alternative Medicine, introduced the novel idea that water not only reflects the physical word around it (as when we use a placid lake or pond as a mirror), but it also reflects the consciousness of the being surrounding it.

The experiment he used to discover this included bottles filled with water, that were set under either a positive or a negative influence.  For example, some bottles of water were wrapped with written notes, with the writing facing inside the bottle that said, “thank you.”  This was done in various languages.  No matter what language was used, the water in these bottles, when frozen, created complete crystals that were lovely to behold.  

Water over which a priest prayed, with love and gratitude, created the same type of crystals.  Conversely, unpleasant, incomplete, and malformed crystals were created in water exposed to people saying or writing, “You fool,” or other negative expressions.

By exposing water to a particular word or piece of music, freezing it, and photographing the ice crystals formed, Dr. Emoto has shown that from beautiful words and music, come beautiful crystals, and from mean-spirited, negative words, come malformed and misshapen crystals. What is the significance?  It becomes clear when we remember that the adult human body is approximately 70% water and infant bodies are about 90% water.  We can be hurt emotionally and, as the water can be changed, for the worse physically by negativity. However, we are always closer to beauty when surrounded by positive thoughts, words, intentions and ultimately those vibrations.

Let’s remember to take a moment before we drink to bless the water that gives us life. 

References
Further Reading on Dr. Emoto’s work: http://hado.com/ihm/

*Urine Color for diagnosis: http://health.clevelandclinic.org

Previous posts about water:
Food Focus: Water
Water

Avoid False Readings With One Simple Habit

May 12, 2019

WASH YOUR HANDS

According to an article on everydayhealth.com, there is a surprising cause of blood sugar swings.

Forgetting to wash your hands before checking your blood sugar could result in false readings. If you test after handling food, the sugar residue remaining on your hands could affect the test result by contaminating the blood sample.

Researchers in the Netherlands asked participants in a study group to peel a banana or slice an apple before testing and 88 percent of those that handled the fruit had a blood sugar readings at least 10 percent higher than a reading taken after they washed their hands.

Blood glucose meters are extremely sensitive and the blood sample used is tiny, so any food residue on the finger that is pricked can result in an inaccurate reading.

Inaccurate readings could also result due to lotions or creams. If you can’t get to a sink to wash your hands prior to testing your blood glucose level, wipe away the first drop of blood and use the second drop to increase accuracy of the results.

Rethink Your Drink

May 12, 2019

Rethink Your Drink

Some time ago, I was invited to host a booth at a local Health Fair. At the table, I displayed a variety of drinks, along with the corresponding amount of sugar contained in each drink.

The responses I received were amazing!!!!! It’s your turn now. I challenge you to READ THE LABELS!!!!

booth-pic

Here are the drinks that were displayed:

  • Vitamin D Milk
  • Hersheys Strawberry Flavored Milkshake
  • Donald Duck Orange Juice
  • Dasani Purified Water
  • Minute Maid Lemonade
  • Coca Cola
  • Snapple Peach Tea
  • Gatorade Frost
  • Hershey’s Chocolate Milk (2% reduced fat)
  • rain Fresh H2O

test-yourself

nutritional-data-screenshotI tabulated the following (information obtained from nutrition label on each product):

  • Ingredients
  • No. of servings per container
  • Amount of sugar per serving (grams)
  • Number of carbohydrates per serving
  • Total amount of sugar per container (grams)
  • Total number of carbohydrates per container

INGREDIENTS LISTED:

ingredients-data

Women Marched….What Now?

January 23, 2017
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Women Marched….What Now?

This past weekend, we witnessed the Million Woman March on Washington and in other locations worldwide.

Did you march?

If so, did you march to show strength and unity in support for or against an issue?

In my opinion, it is important to the success of a strategy to vote for, fight for, and work for a specific outcome as opposed to fighting against something.

I urge you to become an advocate.

Become an advocate for peace. For love. For community. For health. For families. For children. For _(fill in the blanks)_____________.

I choose to be an advocate every day of my life.

I am an advocate for healthy communities.

Consider taking the following actions:

* Become engaged in the conversation

* Become familiar with what is happening in your community.

* Get involved at the local level.

* Contact your elected officials often.

We create our reality with the words we use and the emotions we feel.

What reality do we want to create for our children?

Empower yourself to speak your truth. But always remember that what you speak has immeasurable power.

It’s easy to tear something and someone down. It’s much more empowering to build something and someone up.

In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you. - Deepak Chopra

 

How Intuitive are You?

December 5, 2016
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How Intuitive are You?

antenna2Are you an intuitive person? Have you ever received a phone call from someone that recently came to your mind?

I happen to believe that we all have the ability to communicate with our loved ones by simply sending  our focused thoughts and intention. Thi skill can be practiced. Here’s an example:

Recently I attended a class where I was challenged to pick a person that I do not know well (also in the class) and to run an experiment. We were asked to coordinate via text and to schedule a 5 minute period of time where we would connect with Spirit (via meditation) and then simply focus on each other. We were told to write down our impressions and after the 5 minutes, to call each other and discuss our observations.

My new “friend” and I conducted our experiment and our results were pretty astounding.

Many years ago, I attended a workshop where we practiced “sending and receiving” information to a partner while we were sitting back to back. The results were almost  astounding for me….I kept picking up the images transmitted by another person sitting nearby.

As in everything in life, in order to perfect a skill, we must practice, practice, practice.

I challenge you to pick a partner (anywhere in the world) and to test this experiment.

The results might just surprise you!

Happy Thanksgiving

November 23, 2016
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Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2016 is unlike any other Thanksgiving so far. We, as a Nation, are growing and changing. The changes that we are witnessing are significant.

As we enter the Holiday Season, many of us a breathing a sigh or relief. We are grateful that the sordid election is over. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that everyone is happy with the results. What I am saying is that we, as a Nation, have grown weary of the nastiness of the politics within the Establishment. We are no longer asleep.

For most of my friends and acquaintances, there was no clear choice. Many of us voted ‘against’ candidates as opposed to ‘for’ a candidate.

Here’s my take on this.

  • We live in the most amazing country in the world.
  • I am grateful for this Nation.
  • I am grateful to the Founding Fathers (& Mothers)
  • I am grateful for the Independent Media, without whom many of us would have been totally unprepared for the election results. The mainstream media failed us. We must demand a return of true journalism: Who? What? When? Where? Why?
  • I recognize that there is a huge division in our Country. I suggest that we recognize that if we want to change the way things are, we must begin the change within ourselves. No finger pointing. We allowed this nastiness to happen.
  • As the light shines and the truth is revealed, all the nasty and ugly things become visible. There are acts of hatred and intolerance occurring in our communities. It’s as if, we have woken up the sleeping rabid animal. Love only wins when we increase love in our lives.
  • What we focus on becomes our reality. If we continue to complain about Hillary or Trump, we are actually activating their energy more. It’s kind of like when a toddler throws a tantrum or a teenager rebels. Oftentimes, it’s because they want attention. Any attention. Negative attention trumps zero attention. Let’s instead vow to become active in the causes in which we believe.
  • Whenever we hear a news story or read an article, we should ask ourselves: What is this they want me to believe & why? Asking “WHY?” is one of the most powerful tools we have. There are a lot of “fake” news available. It is up to us to discern what is true. If we expect FaceBook or any other entity to make this decision for us, we are giving up our power. It is also the same as censorship.
  • A Free Media is imperative for us to retain our Freedom.

Many of these items were discussed by my dear co-host and I on our podcast this past Monday. I invite you to listen to it and would very much appreciate your comments. (Thanks to my dear Joyceeh-Pooh for summarizing the show for us.)

As always, I am grateful for my loved ones. I am grateful for you. And above all, I am grateful to our Creator for the blessings of all that is.

Happy Thanksgiving Day.

 

 

 

Delete. Delete. Delete

August 17, 2015
Happy Just Because

Delete. Delete. Delete.

As I posted a beautiful poem at BeautyStartsWithMe.com, I wondered at it’s wisdom. (Read the poem here).

In fact, the advice is precisely what I needed to read today.

You see, I’ve been deleting toxic people from my life. One of my mottos has always been to delete that which is unhealthy for me or my children, no matter what.

I have learned the difference between genetic ‘family’ and true family. As I consciously surround myself with joy and walk away from baseless hatred, judgment, greed, and drama, I affirm that blood is NOT thicker than water. Friendship endures when all involved feel safe to honestly discuss issues of importance to each other. Friends don’t always agree with each other. Friends don’t hide things from each other. Friends DO always have each other’s best interest at heart.

So how do I love freely without subjecting myself to hurtful situations? I choose to love those I have deleted from my life from a safe distance. To me, that means to send them joy, light, peace, and health even while knowing that they will never be a part of my life again.

To love with reckless abandon MUST begin with self-love. I love myself enough to walk away from those that hate me, for they don’t really KNOW me.

I love myself enough to speak my truth.

I love myself enough to surround myself with joy.

I acknowledge that life is so much happier and stress free when I’m not surrounded by toxic people or the associated social expectations.

So, I leave you with this thought:

Love YOURSELF first. Always love unconditionally. By knowing that I love unconditionally, even when those I have loved turn their backs on me, I easily achieve a state of calm and grace. I create my family by surrounding myself with those who are honest and loving and authentic. The rest of them, I call distant cousins.

Sometimes, it’s the “…or not” in the following excerpt from Maya Christobel‘s poem, Whole-Heart that stands out. 

“The most profound truth about love

is that the healing

is not in being loved at all,

but in the loving.

Holding that dynamic expression of God

in my entire body and soul

and sharing it…

no strings…

no expectations…

just the sheer joy in savoring

the expression itself…

grateful for every microsecond

my love is

accepted,

seen,

and relished…

or not.

 

 

What’s In My Pocket – July 30, 2015

July 31, 2015
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What’s In My Pocket – July 30, 2015

Last month’s feature of What’s In My Pocket was extremely well received. Thank You!!! Here’s this month’s feature:
Avoid False Blood Glucose Readings
If you’ve ever tested your blood sugar after handling food or after you have applied cream or lotion, you may be obtaining inaccurate blood sugar results. Research participants in a research study in the Netherlands had surprising results. Read more… 

Prescription Sleeping Pills Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk
A case-control study was conducted to determine if longer-term use of benzodiazepines could be linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease was conducted by researchers from the University of Bordeaux and other research centers in France and Canada. Benzodiazepines, which are a group of drugs used mainly to treat anxiety and insomnia, are generally only used for short periods  (usually no more than four weeks).

According to an analysis on PubMed Health; “This case control study has suggested that long-term use of benzodiazepines (over six months) may be linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older people. These findings are reported to be similar to other previous studies, but add weight to these by showing that risk increases with increasing length of exposure to the drugs, and with those benzodiazepines that remain in the body for longer.” The study was published in the peer-reviewed British Medical Journal on an open access basis, so it is free to read online.

Kitchen Tip: Wood Cutting Boards 
Make sure your wood cutting board lasts forever with these helpful tips:
  1. Keep it oiled – rub the cutting board with mineral oil about once a month.
  2. If you don’t like scratches on it, sand them out with 220-grit sandpaper. Gently follow the grain.
  3. Keep it dry between use. Don’t soak it in the sink. Dry it well after cleaning since excess moisture can warp the wood.
  4. Elevate it off the counter when in use (either with legs, or a damp paper towel or towel). The moisture that can build up under the board can damage it.
  5. Freshen the surface by sprinkling coarse sand on it and rubbing it with a lemon.
Source: TastingTable.com

The Link Between Hypertension and Plastic Food Storage Containers – Scientists from New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center have found the chemicals used in plastics which were supposed to be safe alternatives for DEHP (di-2-ethylhexylphlatate ) have been found to cause similar effects.

The compounds in question – di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) – have now also been linked to small rises in blood pressure.

Two separate studies were published in the journals Hypertension and The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. According to an article published in The Guardian, “In the Hypertension study, for every 10-fold increase in the amount of phthalates consumed, there was a 1.1 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) increase in blood pressure….In the other study, one in three adolescents with the highest DINP levels had the highest insulin resistance, while for those with the lowest concentrations of the chemicals, only one in four had insulin resistance.”

Storing food in plastic is risky. It can lead to hypertension, heart problems, insulin resistance, diabetes, metabolic disorders, etc…  (I’m famous for using mason jars).

If you still wish to store food in plastic food storage containers, here are some tips:

  1. Wait until the food is cool before filling the container or covering it in plastic wrap.
  2. Never heat food in plastic containers or wrapped in plastic wrap.
  3. Don’t wash plastic food storage containers in the dishwasher (plasticizers can leak out).
  4. Avoid plastic food storage containers with the numbers 3, 6, or 7 on the recycle emblem.

If I Were A Flower

July 17, 2015
Sunflower

If I Were A Flower

My Morning Reflection:

“Sunflower”

If I were a flower.. 
I would be a sunflower. 
To always follow the sun, 
Turn my back to darkness, 
Stand proud, tall and straight 
Even with my head full of seeds.

Author: Pam Stewart

Sunny Gift from Hubby
Sunny Gift from Hubby

Me & Flower Belle
sunflower drawing (credit: google images)
Source: Google Images

Gratitude Heralds In Abundance

July 17, 2015
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Ruthie & Dennis Enjoying Abundance

Gratitude Heralds In Abundance

Here’s a wonderful Morning Song that I learned from P’Taah at a retreat in Key West that I attended with my partner in spiritual retreats and many adventures, Joyceeh-Pooh:

From the God/Goddess of my being I give forth the thanks.
For the love that I am,
for the love in my life and the love that surrounds me, thank you.
Thank you for the miracle of life that I am and
thank you for the miracle of life I see reflected all about me.
Thank you for the gift of life that I am.
Thank you for this perfect body, my health and well-being, thank you.
Thank you for the abundance that I am and
thank you for the abundance I see reflected all about me.
Thank you for the riches and the richness of my life and
thank you for the river of money which flows to me and through me, thank you.
Thank you for the excitement and adventure of the millions of wondrous possibilities
and wondrous probabilities, thank you.
Thank you for the wonderment and thank you for the joy.
Thank you for the beauty and harmony.
Thank you for the peace and tranquility.
Thank you for the laughter and thank you for the play.
And thank you for the privilege of serving and sharing the gift that I am.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

“And all of those things that you have given thanks for do exist in your life. Love is the truth of you and there is not a lot of lack here. Your body is a miracle and is absolutely perfect. You are abundance. How could it be any other way? And all about you in your exterior reality you are surrounded by love, by abundance, by the miracle of life. And you do know about the possible and probable realities — wondrous and limitless. You do know about peace and tranquility, about love and joy, and laughter and play. And even if you cannot really grasp it in this Now, you truly are a gift.

Sing this song to your universe each day as you go forth to bathe your body. As you stand beneath the delicious flow of water, your beautiful body is warm and relaxed, the water is crystalline in property and grandly magnifying. And as you sing forth the words, the sound embraced by the feeling in the Is-ness, in the Now of being in total abundance, you are in that reality. And as you go forth in your day, you carry with you the resonance, the energy that knows no lack.”

– P’taah

Shall We Dance?

July 13, 2015
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Shall we dance?

Shake What Ya’ Mama Gave You

Last year, I responded to a challenge from from my Cafecito Break Monday Morning Co-Host, Rosangel Perez. She challenged me to create a daily video for the Gratitude Movement on FB called “29 Days of Gratitude – Love Lives Here”. Although I was unable to complete the challenge for the entire 29 days, I learned a lot of valuable lessons. (Expect more video footage once I figure out how to streamline the production process).

Here is the YouTube video followed by the script:

 

Script:

Today’s Love recommendation is to get up & dance!!!!

So why should we dance?

According to an article in psychology today, “Studies have shown that dance, in particular, can decrease anxiety and boost mood more than other physical outlets. Here’s how they studied it:

Researchers assigned patients with anxiety disorders to spend time in one of four settings:
• a modern-dance class
• an exercise class
• a music class
• a math class.

Only the dance class significantly reduced anxiety.

So how does dance & movement help us make physical & emotional changes?

Dance/movement therapy pioneer, Marian Chace, discovered back in the 1940s that her patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder were able to use dance therapy as a form of communication that assisted in the decrease of tension held in the body and minimized isolation. According to the American Dance Therapy Association, Dance/movement therapy, is based on the core belief that there is a fundamental interconnection between mind and body and what happens to the body can effectively influence the mind and vice versa.

So now, lets discuss Why we should get up & dance:

According to the Dance Teachers.Org, the ten reasons to dance are:

• It keeps the body and brain active, & vital
• It improves strength and flexibility, which helps keeps muscles and joints healthy
• it can help you meet new people and make friends with people who have similar interests
• It helps you learn about your body, & improves your posture and balance
• It can help to reduce stress levels
• It can offer insight into other cultures
• It can lead to new career opportunities, or help build communications skills • It can help increase your self esteem and confidence as you master new dance skills
• It offers a creative outlet by providing a safe environment to express individual personalities
• It is a fun way open up new possibilities, keep healthy and enjoy yourself

So we’ve talked about why we SHOULD dance and how it affects us, now let’s explore WHY we actually dance. About.com asked readers the following question:

Why do you dance? Does dancing help you express your creativity? Do you feel empowered when dancing? Tell us why you dance. Share your reason for dancing with others.

Here are a few responses that were posted:

“I love to dance because its the only way where i can express my self~ and i can feel truly happy from bottom my heart” -About.com Guest JoMit

“I dance because that is how i can be myself, express myself and my emotions. It is like letting your soul out.” – About.com Guest Lily

So now it’s your turn: Fill in the blanks:

I dance because _______________________________.

References & Sources
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/meaning-in-motion/201305/why-should-we-dance
Wikipedia Commons
http://www.dance-teachers.org/dance-styles/the-benefits-of-dance.aspx
http://dance.about.com/u/ua/danceandyourhealth/Why-Do-You-Dance-Reasons-Why-You-Dance.htm
Music: http://www.bensound.com

The Veil of Abuse and The White Elephant In The Room

July 10, 2015
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Veiled Abuse

The Veil of Abuse and The White Elephant In The Room

Several months ago, I was caught in the midst of a terrible family dynamic. At the time, I quickly realized that the dynamics were not about personality conflicts or disagreements between those involved. I quickly saw through the veil of emotional outrage and public displays of intolerance and knew that it was a clash between the old energy and the new energy; Specifically, it was a clash between the Male and the Female roles and how the cultural baggage we carry can unleash a rampage of pain via the rage and anger of those that feel entitled.

I see this same scene being played out on the world stage. However, it is hidden deep within the layers of many, many veils.

Racism – What is racism? It is pure and abject intolerance and hatred towards a specific race or people. How many of us have ever truly explored our prejudices? Do we cross the street whenever we see a person that looks a certain way? What are our fears? When did we first witness an act of racism? How did we feel? Why? Until we become aware of our own feelings and actions, we cannot possibly heal this part of our being.

Anti-Semitism – What do you believe about the Jewish People? Have you ever made a remark or joke about Jews? Many people do not realize that the word Semite defines both Arabs and Jews. The actual meaning of the word “Semite” is:

“…a member of any of various ancient and modern peoples originating in southwestern Asia, including the Akkadians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs. A member of any of the peoples descended from Shem, the eldest son of Noah.”

Is it rational that there is so much hatred for a group of people that comprise only 0.17% of the total world population? What does that even have to do with you, you ask? Many people believe that the Holocaust happened a long time ago and such a thing could never happen again and some people believe that it never really happened. Could it happen in our own country? Kitty Werthmann lived it. She is a witness to history. Here’s her story. Where do YOU stand on this issue?

Tribal Warfare and “Ethnic Conflict” – How many times do we witness such conflicts around the world? What are the circumstances the appear to ignite such conflicts? Are human beings just violent by nature? Has this occurred since prehistoric time? In search for answers, I turned to an organization named Cultural Survival, an advocacy group for the Indigenous’ Rights. In an article aptly named, Tribal Warfare and Ethnic Conflict, R. Brian Ferguson explains that “in the early archaeological record of many regions, there are no traces of war, even in places where we have good recovery of the skeletons and settlements that would have revealed war if it had occurred. In later archaeological remains, signs of war appear, spread, and over time become much more common.”

He further states:

“Archeological explanations include larger regional populations that increased competition; more anchored living that prevented people from moving away from conflict; social structures such as clans that provided flexible frameworks for splitting into “us” and “them”; the emergence of a distinct political elite with its own interests; trade in goods that provided something to fight over; and ecological reverses such as droughts or large-game extinction. As these factors became more common around the world, so did war.”

As we know, in today’s world of social media and instant headlines, many outside influences infiltrate (and fund) regional conflicts. Now we see groups that have formed to take the lead which are politically structured and not a part of ancient culture or regional culture.Their agenda is full control to have total power over all involved.

It’s not about religion. It’s not about culture. It’s about Power. It’s about control.

Now, let’s lift the veil a bit and examine a different type of ongoing discrimination, Gender Discrimination:

We recently witnessed a celebration in our country. SCOTUS approved same-sex marriage throughout the land. How did you feel when you heard the news? Do you know someone who is a member of the LGBT family? Do you understand the struggles that this group has faced throughout history? I’m not asking anyone to agree with a certain lifestyle – I’m just asking you to peer through the veil of your belief system with eyes of compassion and justice.

It is time for the conversation to use I/Thou vs. Us/Them. We have more similarities as human beings than we do differences. We have much work to do.

But wait…There’s More.

Veiled WomanWhat group in this world do you feel is the MOST OPPRESSED?

My response: Women

“Worldwide, about 1 in 4 women were married before age 18, with the highest rates of child marriage in South Asia.”  http://www.data.unicef.org/child-protection/child-marriage#

Many of the world’s women are victims to:

  • Honor Killings – “Nearly 1000 ‘honor’ killings are reported in Pakistan each year, murders by a family member for behavior deemed “shameful,” such as a relationship outside of marriage.” Ted Talk by Kahlida Brohi 
  • Illiteracy – “Most of us take for granted that we can read, say, the street signs outside of our house. But for an overwhelming number of women in the Arab world, basic literacy is not a given.” – When Reading Is A Brave Act of Daring by Tu Huong Ha
  • Mutilation – “The U.N. estimates more than 125 million girls and women are living with the often-horrific consequences of FGM/C (Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision).” Blood, Fear and Ritual: Witness to Female Circumcision in Kenya – Time Magazine
  • Travel & clothing Restrictions – In many countries, women must be accompanied by a male member of their family and must wear clothing that is appropriate to their culture. Women still do not have the right to drive a car in some countries.
  • Gendercide, Sex-selective abortions, abandonment, and neglect of young girls – Certain countries, including China and India, grant low status to women. It is commonplace for a bride to be selected by the size of her dowry and it is not unheard of for women to be killed when the dowry runs out.

How many die?

“Gendercide Watch is aware of no overall statistics on the numbers of girls who die annually from infanticide. Calculations are further clouded by the unreliability and ambiguity of much of the data. Nonetheless, a minimum estimate would place the casualties in the hundreds of thousands, especially when one takes into consideration that the phenomenon is most prevalent in the world’s two most populous countries. Sex-selective abortions likely account for an even higher number of “missing” girls.”

http://www.gendercide.org/case_infanticide.html

  • Child Marriage – The other night, I watched a Ted Talk by a young woman from Malawi named Memory Banda, who shared a poem written by her sister, Ilene:

“I’ll marry when I want. My mother can’t force me to marry. My father

cannot force me to marry. My uncle, my aunt, my brother or sister, cannot

force me to marry. No one in the world can force me to marry. I’ll marry

when I want. Even if you beat me, even if you chase me away, even if you

do anything bad to me, I’ll marry when I want.

I’ll marry when I want, but not before I am well educated, and not before I

am all grown up.

I’ll marry when I want.”

Young girls in her country are sent to a traditional initiation camp that teaches girls how to “please a man”. The girls are pressured to attend the camp as soon as they reach puberty. Her sister, Ilene, was eleven when she attended the camp, got pregnant there, at became a mother of four children by the age of Sixteen. Memory refused to attend the camp and she successfully organized a campaign to secure a National Law that outlaws child marriage. Watch her Ted Talk.

“Marriage before the age of 18 is a fundamental violation of human rights. Yet among women aged 20 to 24 worldwide, about one in four were child brides. Many factors interact to place a girl at risk of marriage, including poverty, the perception that marriage will provide ‘protection’, family honour, social norms, customary or religious laws that condone the practice, an inadequate legislative framework and the state of a country’s civil registration system. Child marriage often compromises a girl’s development by resulting in early pregnancy and social isolation, interrupting her schooling, limiting her opportunities for career and vocational advancement and placing her at increased risk of domestic violence. Child marriage also affects boys, but to a lesser degree than girls.” 

http://www.data.unicef.org/child-protection/child-marriage#.dpuf

Quote by MLK

It’s up to us to evaluate our own belief system and to take steps to eliminate prejudice within ourselves. Please visit the following groups and let me know if there are any additional organizations that should be added to the list:

  • Ambient Noise “Mindfully Moving Forward To See Our Oneness”
  • Friends of Roots 
  • Cultural Survival
  • Anti-Defamation League
  • Organizations Working for Women’s Rights

References:

  • https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/jewpop.html
  • http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/mar/09/legal-barriers-women-equal-rights-opportunities
  • http://www.gendercide.org/case_infanticide.html

Let Them Go

July 3, 2015
Walk Away

Let Them Go

We have ALL been there. We establish a relationship with someone. We love them. We trust them. Then, BAM! They walk away.

Sometimes, we KNOW that it was time to let the relationship go. We are all a work-in-progress. I’m on a journey. You’re on a journey. Sometimes, our paths meet. Sometimes they don’t.

I believe 100% that when we are meant to move along and we choose to stay, the universe will blow things up for us in such a way that our only option is to move on.

  • Love YourselfIf something or someone makes you feel bad, WALK AWAY. Stick close to that which brings you joy.
  • If something or someone hurts you, WALK AWAY. Trust your gut. Believe in yourself.
  • If someone is controlling your behavior, dress, and isolating you from the people you love, WALK AWAY. YOU are beautiful. Love yourself by taking care of yourself.

Walk Away

Find your roots and stay close to them. This has two meanings for me:

  1. Remember who you are. Know yourself. Who are you really? What makes you smile? What brings you joy? Do that. It’s not about your family. It’s about you. Your family has played a pivotal role in your journey. Acknowledge them. Thank them. Whether the relationship is good or not, thank them, for it is family that teaches you the biggest lessons in life.
  2. Who has been your staunchest ally? Who has been there for you through thick and thin? Who will tell you the truth, even if it’s painful? These are your roots. Stick close to them.

This message was perfectly illustrated  by Tyler Perry (aka Madea):

Get up and go on with your life. It’s all right to sit around and be depressed for a minute. Cry about it. Do whatever you have to do, but don’t stay there too long. Get up and go on with your life.

This is what I’ve learned in all these years I’ve been on this earth: if somebody wants to get up and walk out of your life, Let. Them. Go. Especially if you know you’ve done everything you could do. You’ve done sat around and been the best man or the best woman you could be, and they still wanna go? Let. Them. Go. Whatever they’re runnin’ after, they’ll see what they had in a minute, but by then it’s gonna be too late. ‘Cause you’ll sit there and you’ll go”cause half these ppl you’ve been sittin around cryin about, in 2-3 years from now you won’t even remember their last name. How many times you seen folk somewhere and you go, ‘what the hell was I THINKING?!’ I’ve been there, thought, ‘What was I going through? I must’ve been lonely as hell to hook up with you!’

Let folks go honey. Some people come into your life for a lifetime, and some come for a season. You got to know which is which. And you’re gonna always mess up when you mix them Seasonal People up with Lifetime expectations.

There are people that went and got married to someone they were only supposed to be with for a season. And they wonder why they have so much hell in they’re life. That was a person who was supposed to come and teach them one thing, they didn’t know so they fell in ‘love’ and now they wonder why they have no peace nowhere they go.

Listen, I put everybody that comes into my life in the category of a tree. Some people, are like leaves on a tree: the wind blow, they’re over here. They’re unstable. The wind blow, they over there. The weather changes, they wither up and die ‘ they’re gone. And that’s alright. That’s some people; most people in the world are like that, they’re just there to take from the tree. That’s all they do, take from the tree and give shade now and again. That’s all they can do. But don’t get mad at people like that, that’s who they are, they’ll never be anything but a leaf. That’s what they were put on this earth to be ‘ a leaf.

Some people, are like a branch on that tree. You gotta be careful with them branches too, because they’ll fool you. They’ll get there and make you think they’re a good friend and that they’re strong, but the minute you step out there on them? They’ll break and leave you high and dry.

But if you find you two or three people in your life that are like the roots at the bottom of that tree, you are truly blessed ’cause them the kind of people that ain’t going NO WHERE. They ain’t worried about being seen, don’t nobody have to know that they know you, they ain’t got to know what they’re doing for you, but if those roots weren’t there that tree couldn’t live. You understand? A tree can have a hundred million branches, but only a few roots down at the bottom to make sure it gets everything it needs. I’m telling you honey, when you get you some roots, hold on to them. The rest of ’em? Just let them go. Let folks go.

*but, it’s not always that easy’*

Nobody said it was gonna be easy! But it’ll get easier when you learn how to love yourself. When you get to a point in your life when you look at people and go: “Okay, wait a minute. It’s you or me.”  You WILL make a decision.

Look, I’ve never just thrown nobody away. I’ve never in my life just thrown somebody away, just say: ‘don’t bother me. Don’t talk to me no more.’ I have never done that. What I do is, I tell them: ‘look here, this thing you’re doing right here? That’s gonna cause a problem ‘ you need to fix that. ‘Cause if we gonna be friends, you gotta fix it. If you don’t, we gonna have an issue.’

Now, if you see someone fix it, or they even trying to fix it, that’s someone that cares. Keep them around. That’s a leaf that’s trying to grow up and be something else. You understand? But if you tell somebody that what they’re doing is hurting and they need to stop it, and they keep doing it? They don’t care ‘ move on. Let them go. No matter how much it hurts, let them go.

And it’ll get easier, I promise you . Everyday it will get easier and easier and easier. You just got to make it through. You hear me honey?

You gotta learn to be by yourself. People have to learn how to be alone. I don’t understand all these people. Oh I need somebody. Lord, where’s my man? Lord, where’s my woman? That is crazy as hell. If you don’t know how to be by yourself, what are you gonna do with somebody else? Stop praying about it! Shut up and wait! Go work on YOU. Hell, that’s what that time is for, to get yourself together.

You would be surprised the things that people put up with just to have somebody to say they love them. That’s crazy. I don’t understand it. I can’t live in dysfunction. I’m sorry. I’ve been through too much, been through too much hell and high water to come there and let you come up in my adult life when I’m supposed to be at peace and give me all kinds of hell. Only two places on this earth you’re gonna have peace, your grave and your house. Now if you wake up in your house and you’ve got no peace something is wrong.

I’d rather be in a corner by myself with a puppy and a goldfish and be happy than be sitting around with somebody up in my house and I’m wondering what the hell they’re there for.

It DOES get easier with time. When you think about incidents or people who have hurt you and you no longer feel pain, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE HEALED!

If you would like support around this issue, please contact me.

Sources:

  • Watch the movie clip.
  • Love Yourself First 
  • Dailystrength.org
  • lovingyou.com

How To Feed & Protect Your Skin

June 18, 2015

How To Feed & Protect Your Skin

As I wrote in last week’s article,  How To Find Yourself By Doing What You Love, I was a wreck in my earlier years and my skin reflected it:  the skin on my abdomen looked mottled and I had an incessant allergic-looking rash on my arms. It wasn’t noticeable to others because it was mild, but I knew it was there. Doctors that I visited prescribed creams & ointments, which did nothing to relieve my skin condition.

I also started having issues with dry & brittle hair. It was a mess! I began to read everything I could about skin & skin care products. The more I learned, the less I trusted the products that were advertised as “good for your hair & skin” and the more I understood that the condition of my skin was a perfect mirror for the dis-ease in my body. For example, poor thyroid function can cause dry & brittle skin and nails.

Here are some things that I have learned:

Natural Beauty Shines Through Your Skin

The skin is a major organ, as is the heart, the kidneys, and the lungs. You can nourish your skin with a healthy lifestyle and some natural remedies. It’s important to know what products to use and what to consume as well as what to stay away from so you can pamper your skin from the inside out.

What You Eat Builds Your Skin

superfoodsYour food makes up your tissues & cells. Water, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and super foods offer superpower nutrients for your skin. Yes, chocolate is on the list.

Use Skin Products The Are Good For You

Did you know that topical application of magnesium gel, for example, is an amazing way to add magnesium to our body without the normal side effects of oral magnesium intake? What you apply to your skin is absorbed into your blood stream. I use a variety of oils, such as: coconut, almond, sesame, and jojoba oils, as well as a variety of essential oils on my skin. Sunscreen is an important product to many of us. I highly recommend the Environmental Working Group’s guide on sunscreens (http://www.ewg.org/sunscreens).

Improve Your Lifestyle Habits

How do you look after a poor night’s sleep? That’s right! Sleep Matters!!! The quality of your sleep, as well as the quantity of sleep that you get has an impact on your entire body!

I was looking at some pictures that we took during our trip to Florida last December and I was unhappy about how I looked in the pictures. Although we had an amazing trip, I was conflicted and anxious about my Father’s health and associated issues, so I was not totally relaxed. Relaxation is important. When one is stressed, it shows.  Getting adequate relaxation and exercise every day will help you shine. (Don’t forget to cleanse your skin after intense workouts to prevent clogged pores.)

Your Skin Needs a Good Brushing

Many years ago, I was introduced to the concept of Dry Skin Brushing by my dear teacher and mentor, Dr. Bruce Berkowsky. According to Dr. Berkowsky, “Vital Chi Skin-Brushing can sustain or re-establish the skin’s functional integrity and youthful glow”.

“Variations of skin-brushing have been practices for thousands of years. For many centuries, the Japanese employed vigorous skin-brushing with loofa sponges as a prelude to their traditional hot bath. Prior to bathing (following a hard training session or physical competition) ancient Greek athletes used strigiles: specialized spoon-like skin scrapers to remove the grime of exertion and encourage circulation. Among Cherokee Indians, skin-brushing with dried corn cobs to enhance durability was once a traditional practice. The Comanche Indians scrubbed their skin using sand from the Texas river bottoms; the Texas Rangers followed their example.” – Dr. Bruce Berkowsky, Natural Health Science Vital Chi Skin-Brushing System

If You Wouldn’t Eat It, Don’t Put It On Your Skin
Just like what you eat affects your skin’s health, what you put on your skin affects your health.  Over 10,500 unique chemicals are used as ingredients in personal care products and
NO PREMARKET SAFETY TESTING IS REQUIRED.

fda

The first step to using products that nourish your skin is to read the ingredients on the labels and choose products that contain nourishing ingredients and do not contain toxic chemicals. Here are some common ingredients found in personal care products and cosmetics that are not safe to use:

Phthalates – Phthalates are industrial chemicals that are used as ingredients in both plastics and skincare products. Research studies have linked phthalates to reduced fertility and have been found to block the action of key hormones, resulting in inhibited sexual development. Babies are more susceptible to the effects of these toxins.  Baby products containing phthalates are widely used. Recent research at the University of Washington found phthalate breakdown products in the urine of babies that were in the study (81% of the babies studied showed 7 or more phthalates).

Parabens – Parabens are preservatives (to prevent fungal and bacterial growth in the products) that mimic estrogen once absorbed by the body. One study found parabens in breast tumors. They are widely used in cosmetics. It is believed that all parabens can be found in all American bodies. According to the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Products, some parabens are endocrine disruptors which can cause reproductive and developmental disorders.

1,4-dioxane (PEGs/Ceteareth/Polyethylene compounds) – These toxins are created by an inexpensive process that is used commercially to make emulsifiers, humectants, and foaming agents. These toxins are considered carcinogenic and potentially neurotoxic. A study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association reveled that these toxins have even made their way into “natural” products. (Carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane Found in Leading “Organic” Brand Personal Care Products)

Isothiazolinones – These are compounds listed as Methylisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone, benzisothiazolinone (look for ingredients listing “chloro” or “methyl” on the label). These compounds are used as preservatives in hair dye, shampoo, shaving cream, body wash, and other products and are among the most common irritants, sensitizers, and allergens. Lab studies suggest that these compounds may be neurotoxic.

Triclosan & Triclocarban – These little babies are found in soap, toothpastes, shaving creams, mouth wash, and products labeled as “germ-resistant” (including toys, garbage bags, and even kitchen utensils. When you see soaps & liquids labeled “antibacterial” or “anti-microbial”, RUN.  These are not only toxic to aquatic environments, they are toxic to humans! Triclosan disrupts thyroid function AND reproductive hormones. The best way to stay clean is to USE SOAP AND WATER! Overuse of antimicrobials may promote the development of resistance to antibiotics in the future. Did you know that when combined with chlorinated water, triclosan can form chloroform gas? As it degrades, it can form highly toxic compounds like dioxin. (Note: it’s important to note that some chemicals, on their own, react differently than the same chemical reacts in combination with other chemicals &/or environmental states.)

Talc – Even though talc is a mineral, when it is used in talcum powder and cosmetics, it can pose a hazard. Research on this issue goes back to at least 1971, when a study found that 75% of ovarian tumors studied contained talc particles. When the particles are inhaled, it could cause respiratory distress.

ewg-chart1Other ingredients that are NOT SAFE to use in body products are:

  • BHA
  • Boric Acid and Sodium Borate
  • Coal tar hair dyes and other coal tar ingredients (including Aminophenol, Diaminobenzene, Phenylenediamine)
  • Formaldehyde
  • Formaldehyde Releasers – Bronopol, DMDM hydantoin, Diazolidinyl urea, Imidzaolidinyl urea and Quaternium-15
  • Fragrance
  • Hydroquinone
  • Lead
  • Nanoparticles
  • Oxybenzone
  • Parabens (specifically Propyl-, Isopropyl-, Butyl-, and Isobutyl- parabens)
  • Petroleum distillates
  • Resorcinol
  • Toluene
  • Vitamin A compounds (retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinol)
  • Animal Based Ingredients

ewg-chart2A wonderful resource available to consumers is the Environmental Working Group (EWG). I trust them because they are nonprofit and nonpartisan. Their sole mission is to protect consumers. You can find out more about toxic ingredients at the EWG website and you can use their app (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/app/) to check ingredients while shopping.

In conclusion, here are my recommendations:

Ten Steps To Healthy Skin:

  1. Stay Hydrated
  2. Consume Essential Fatty Acids
  3. Eat a diet that is rich in Antioxidants
  4. Add Super Foods to your meals
  5. Sleep
  6. Relax
  7. Exercise
  8. Brush Your Skin
  9. Use health promoting personal care products and cosmetics.
  10. Protect Your Skin by avoiding toxins in personal care products, cosmetics, cleaning agents, and the environment. 




References

Healthy Skin Guide, Institute for Integrative Nutrition

http://www.naturalnews.com/025449_oil_products_skin.html

http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/2011/04/12/why-this-matters/

https://www.organicconsumers.org/old_articles/bodycare/DioxaneRelease08.php

How To Find Yourself By Doing What You Love

June 12, 2015

The Journey Begins In Grade School

Our individual journey towards a joyful and balanced life begins when we are little babies. We are conditioned by our upbringing, culture, schooling, etc… Today, I share my personal journey with you, in hopes that it will inspire you to take a chance and dare to be the real YOU.
lostWhen I was a little girl, I always felt as if I was out of place. Few of those around me really understood me. Let’s just say that there was no real bonding ever established, especially with my siblings. I really believed that I was adopted!

At school, I was known as the smart girl from Panama. I was chubby. I was talkative. I didn’t play sports. I was always messy. I was never the most popular kid in grade school.

I was, however, always known to be a good friend, and I’ve maintained many close friendships from elementary school to this day.

Fast forward to High School. I was involved in orchestra. I was an excellent student who maintained great relationships with teachers and administrators. I had a few close friends, but never really clicked with a particular crowd. I was friendly with kids from a variety of groups, across the racial & cultural divide that so often marked the late 70’s in Texas.

Little did I know that my “I” was in hiding every day a bit more. You see, I lived in a very sheltered environment, so “experiencing” new things was not really encouraged. It was as if I had two separate lives: school and home. My school life was controlled: do your work, stay out of trouble, be home when school lets out. Period. My home life was more complex. It was at home that the most complex lessons of who I am began to emerge. These lessons laid the foundation for decisions which I made throughout my life, many of which brought me great sadness and pain, and many of which resulted in the most amazing joy imaginable (my boys). In many cases, those feelings were intermingled in a bittersweet manner. I’ll give you the quick version.

  • Grow up
  • Get married
  • Get your degree (a.k.a. don’t study what you love because that will never pay the bills. Study something profitable so you can support your family).
  • Get to work
  • Buy a house
  • Have kids
  • Live happily ever after?????

stop
The following was not discussed:

  • Take time and enjoy childhood. One never gets a second chance to be a kid.
  • Fall in love. Take a chance. You may have a broken heart before it’s all over with, but you learn the intricacies of relationships and the sensitivities that are required to maintain a happy relationship. It is within relationships that one learns the most about one’s self.
  • Take your time to mature and grow before marriage – I got married at 19. Really. Why, you ask? My answer would be that my cultural imprint had a huge impact on this decision. Low self-esteem had a huge effect as well.
  • Learn a trade that is interesting, challenging, and rewarding to you. – Working at something one is not passionate about increases the risk of rapid burnout in the ‘profession.’ The stresses &/or boredom associated with such work WILL affect everything in one’s life, including health, relationships, and finances. Really.

Work is a reality of life. Americans spend a HUGE amount of time at work. The chart below is an AVERAGE work day for employed persons. As an employed single mom, with three boys, I guarantee that the average data does not apply. Enough said.

work-time

Having a failed marriage under my belt and three kids to support, I felt like a failure. I knew that I needed a shift in my life. My answers did NOT lie in religion. My answers did NOT lie in the advice & suggestions received from those around me. My answers were within me. I knew that it was time to start my journey towards Deep Level Soul Healing…..

Deep Level Soul Healing

What’s It All About?

When there’s a feeling of angst within us, when we feel anxiety, boredom, discomfort, or dis-ease (a.k.a. disease), it’s a sign from our soul that we are not in alignment with our soul’s true path. According to my teacher and mentor, Dr. Bruce Berkowsky, the path to healing is to allow ourselves to again become aligned with who we really are (at the soul level).

I believe that the journey feeds on itself. We cannot find inner peace and contentment when our bodies are ill. Our bodies don’t heal when our mind and spirit are troubled. So how does one start?

According to Dr. Berkowsky, “the power to cure disease resides only within the body, and that innate power cannot fully prevail until wrong living habits stop and the fundamental elements of life and health, in necessary measure, have been set in place. Namely: proper diet; pure water; fresh air; sunlight; adequate exercise, warmth, rest and sleep; emotional harmony; proper posture.”

That’s it.
It’s not complex.
It’s not a drug.
It’s not a cleanse.
It’s a combination of fundamental elements!
It’s a mind blowing realization!!!!!

So how do we get there?

Every Journey Is Individual

dr-bI cannot tell you what will work for you. I can share with you what has or has not worked for me. I can tell you, however, that wherever you begin, the other elements will follow.

I once was in a very dark place. Yes, I was. I struggled every day to have the energy that I needed to support my kids and myself. I was a single mom and I held many fears. Unbeknownst to me, I also held much deep seated anger within myself.

Along comes a friend who invites me on a trip to the mountains. I did something that was totally uncharacteristic of me. I said YES!!! That was my first step. I didn’t overanalyze it. I didn’t question it.

This trip changed my life. I opened my heart to a new perspective. It was during this trip that I found my “I” , by realizing how every action that I had taken to that moment resulted in everything that I had become. I realized that all the seemingly “separate” interests that I had (herbs, essential oils, reflexology, Kabbalah, crystals, health & healing, sacred geometry) were all interconnected and very much a part of my “I”. Unbeknownst to me, I had been gathering pearls of wisdom towards this journey all along! The challenge I faced was how to make seemingly insurmountable changes in my life that would take me from the darkness of my “reality” to a place of light & joy.

Here are some of the steps that I took once I REALIZED and understood my state of BE-ING:

  • I started to verbalize my truth. Softly at first. Now it’s closer to a roar!
  • I walked away from those that were unhealthy for me.
  • I walked away from a job that demanded of me certain things that I felt were incompatible with my work ethic.
  • I moved away from a toxic environment.
  • I began to make lifestyle changes that were conducive to better health. Slowly. One step at a time.

Those around me started to notice the changes within me. Those that were uncomfortable with such changes walked away. Those that know ME and love ME are still in my life.

fragranceThe moment I connected with the truth of who I really am, (as a walk-in, unregistered attendee at a Spiritual PhytoEssencing workshop in LaConner, Washington), there has been no turning back.

That weekend, I requested a custom Spiritual PhytoEssencing Blend from Dr. Berkowsky. I credit much of my growth to the work of Dr. Berkowsky. I am now certified as Diplomate/Assistant Teacher in the Art of Spiritual PhytoEssencing. (More information.)

I’m grateful for every note & comment I receive from friends and acquaintances that have begun their own individual journey to health as a result of something I said, presented, discussed, or published. I now found myself surrounded with people that are like-minded. I am grateful.

It Starts With Gratitude And Acceptance
the-real-you-smI am grateful for every experience, both good and bad, that has shaped me. I am grateful for every breath that I take. I am grateful for those who came before me, for it is because of their actions that I am even here. I am grateful for my parents for giving me life and for doing the best they could for me, as they experienced their journey.

We all have baggage. We all have a history. It’s what you do now that matters.

Every Decision Point Is Important

What are your thoughts? What are your dreams? What are your goals?

See yourself living YOUR ultimate dream. Write down your goals.

At every decision point, ask yourself which decision will bring you closer to achieving your goals.

Then, I challenge you to act upon those desires. Dare to be the real you.

 

 

Related Blog Posts:

Spiritual PhytoEssencing

Healing at the Soul Level

 

 

How To Choose A Dietary Supplement

June 4, 2015
 · No Comments

How To Choose A Dietary Supplement

In February of 2015, the New York Attorney General (AG) sent cease and desist letters to several major retailers alleging that most store brand supplements were found to contain contaminants that were not identified on ingredient labels (only 21% of the supplement tests Identified DNA from the plant species that were listed on the labels). As a result, many consumers became wary of all nutritional supplements and the supplement industry was shaken up.

Manufacturers and retailers complained that the DNA barcode testing that was used by the FDA was inappropriate. The Attorney General refused to release any further information about the testing methods used. There are two sides (or more) to every story.

Dietary supplements are regulated under the framework established by The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), which was an amendment to the U.S. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. What is the difference between dietary supplements, functional foods, and nutraceuticals?

Dietary supplements are substances you eat or drink. Active ingredients in many dietary supplements have been used for thousands of years to help health and to treat illness. They are regulated by The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as foods and not as medicine, yet they are regulated differently from drugs and other foods,

  • They can be vitamins, minerals, herbs or other plants, amino acids or a combination of such.
  • They can be purchased in pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid form.
  • They should not be considered a substitute for food
  • They can be sold without research on how well it works. Manufacturers of dietary supplements cannot legally represent them as a cure, treatment, or prevention of any disease. They can represent that they contribute to health maintenance and well-being.
  • Supplements are not intended to diagnose, prevent, cure, or treat disease.

Functional Foods are a food product that may offer benefit beyond nutrition.

Nutraceutical is a marketing term that was coined by Stephen DeFelice, M.D. in 1989 as a combination of the word nutrition with the word “pharmaceutical”.

With a weak regulatory framework for dietary supplements in the U.S., pre-sale testing of product quality and finished product specifications are NOT REQUIRED. The expected result is a weaker commitment to quality, which might result in erratic product quality. Therefore, nobody should really be surprised with the lack of quality control found in the supplement industry today.

It’s even more of a challenge when herbs are used in the formulation of dietary supplements as a single plant species could have hundreds of biologically-active compounds (as opposed to pharmaceuticals that are manufactured under careful laboratory guidelines). Additionally, processing of an herb may alter the DNA, so the DNA barcoding testing method used by the New York AG may not have provided accurate results.

So what are we to do? How do we know what supplements to trust?

Here are my humble recommendations:

  1. Stay away from synthetic vitamins.
  2. Stay away from concentrated molecules (e.g. – high energy drinks with concentrated amounts of caffeine)
  3. Choose food-source bio-available minerals
  4. If you see the words “100 percent natural” on the product’s label, know that manufacturers can use the word “natural” on their nutritional products if at least 10 percent of the product comes from natural food sources. Yes, you read it correctly. Only 10%.
  5. Look for products that are “100 percent plant-based” or “100 percent animal-based”. (As recommended by The Organic Consumers Organization.)
  6. Read the “food source” list on the label. If you don’t see a list of food sources, then the product is synthetic.
  7. Look for whole foods in the ingredient list instead of individual nutrients. If you see a specific vitamin as opposed to the food source, chances are high that the ingredient is synthetic.
  8. Certain synthetic salt forms are added to supplements to increase the stability of vitamins or minerals. If you see salt forms like acetate, bitartrate, chloride, gluconate, hydrochloride, nitrate and succinate, chances are high that the product is synthetic. (Words that end in “ide” or “ate” are indicative of salt forms, which are synthetics. Also, if you see “dl” before the name of an ingredient, the supplement is synthetic.
  9. Avoid supplements that contain toxic ingredients like magnesium stearate (or stearic acid), monosodium glutamate (MSG), Carnauba wax (which is used in car wax and shoe polish), and titanium dioxide, which is a carcinogen. Many toxic ingredients may also be disguised as “natural flavors.”
  10. Consult with a pharmacist before purchasing a vitamin or mineral supplement to help you identify a natural or synthetic vitamin supplement. Make sure your pharmacist knows if you are allergic to any foods or medications.
  11. Consult with your health care provider prior to taking a new supplement.

synthetic-vitamins

 

References:

  • http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/ag-schneiderman-asks-major-retailers-halt-sales-certain-herbal-supplements-dna-tests
  • http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/synthetic-vs-natural-vitamins/
  • http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/dietary-supplements-topic-overview
  • http://arthritis.about.com/od/alternativetreatments/f/nutraceutical.htm
  • https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/supplements-are-the-wild-west-of-health-one-attorney-general-is-out-to-change-that/#more-36856
  • http://www.naturopathic.org/content.asp?contentid=35
  • http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/how-to-tell-if-a-vitamin-is-natural-or-synthetic

Secrets To A Happy Gut

June 4, 2015

Secrets To A Happy Gut

The basis to a healthy lifestyle is having a healthy gut. I’ve been learning about this for many years. It is definitely a step-by-step journey that takes time and patience. It’s not always a fun topic of conversation. Many folks shy away from discussing things like pooping habits, fiber, digestion, etc.. In the interest of better health, I will drop any semblance of shyness and discuss it openly. The first step is to understand why a healthy gut is important and what to do to help it heal.

The gut not only rules our body, in my opinion, our gut rules our emotions and thinking abilities as well as our immune system. To illustrate this point, here’s a short video prepared for the Gut Microbiota For Health World Summit 2015, which outlines why it’s important to pay attention to gut health:

 

Brain Health and Gut Health

There is a surprising link between gut health and anxiety. In 2014, a research team from Oxford published findings in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, which offers some preliminary evidence that there is a powerful link between gut bacteria and the human brain. (Prior to this research, research was performed on animals and not on humans). Forty-FIve healthy participants participated in the study. For three weeks, they took either a placebo or a prebiotic. At the end of the study period, they were given computer tests that tested how they processed emotionally charged information. The results of one of the tests showed that the participants that took the prebiotics paid less attention to the negatively charged words than to the positively charged information than those who took the placebo. This suggests that those who take prebiotics have less anxiety when facing emotionally charged negative situations. According to Carolyn Gregoire, in an article published by the Huffington Post entitled The Surprising Link Between Gut Bacteria And Anxiety, this effect is similar to that which has been observed among individuals who have taken antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication.

gut-prebiotics The article states: “The researchers also found that the subjects who took the prebiotics had lower levels of cortisol — a stress hormone which has been linked with anxiety and depression — in their saliva when they woke up in the morning.”

FOOD AS MEDICINE

You already know that I believe in nourishment. I also believe that supplements are important during certain phases of our lives and they can provide us with the physical support we need to overcome certain obstacles. Having said that, I do not believe in continual supplementation.

My mission as an integrative nutrition health coach is to always guide my client towards using FOOD AS MEDICINE.

Keeping that in mind, I offer to you several suggestions for your consideration and further research. I have tried most of the suggestions below (not all of them) at one point or another. I have included references to various links, as most of the material I have learned has only been available because of wonderful people that have shared their wisdom with me. I have tried to properly credit the material. If I have neglected giving proper credit to someone, I apologize in advance, as it is never my intent to utilize someone’s work with proper acknowledgement.

Generally (un)Known Secrets to a Happy Gut:

  1. Add Smoothies to your life. I try to get at least 2 cups daily. My method is to use dark, leafy greens (approximately half of the total ingredients), fresh or frozen fruit (unsweetened), nuts and super foods (maca, chia seeds, raw cacao, goji berries, hemp seeds, etc…) in every smoothie. I also try to vary the produce I use. We even travel with our Nutribullet.
  2. Kefir – My mom always said that my grandfather,Z”L, believed that eating 1 cup of yogurt a day was the key to good health and young looking skin. I totally agree. I would also suggest that Kefir provides the same benefits. Kefir contains B vitamins, enzymes, and pro-biotics. If you are dairy-free, water kefir is an excellent source. You can even make it at home. (There are lots of people who will provide you with the starter culture. You will have to ask around). 
  3. Homemade Bone Broth – 1 cup/day (reference: Weston Price Foundation). Let me know if you want some information on how to prepare this.
  4. Soil Based organisms (I have not yet tried this tip). According to my research, it can also be used to make homemade yogurt. I must say that I am intrigued by this and plan to do further research on this for an upcoming article, but here is a brief explanation: current farming methods, which rely heavily on pesticides and fertilizers have produced soil that is virtually lifeless. Fertile soil should contain a combination of naturally occurring micro-organisms (a.k.a. Soil Based Organisms) that contain enzymes, which protect the growing plant (our food) from fungi, yeasts, and other parasites. When we eat fruits and vegetables that are grown in nutrient-rich soil, we automatically ingest these beneficial organisms (which help our gut stay healthy by protect us in a similar way they protected the plant). These are available as supplements.
  5. Probiotics are strains of good bacteria and yeasts. Our body is full of bacteria and yeast. Probiotics help keep our gut healthy by eliminating the bad bacteria and maintaining balance of the yeast in our gut. One can get lots of wonderful probiotics by eating or drinking fermented foods, like yogurt or coconut water kefir. During the past year, I started making my own fermented foods at home.
    It started easily enough – I successfully made coconut water kefir. Then, I started getting carried away. I made yogurt, tried to make milk kefir (I will try again), then progressed to kombucha, now I am fermenting veggies and fruits. Yes, you CAN get probiotics from a supplement, but why not get what you need from REAL FOOD?. According to an article on Daily Health Post: “In an effort to maintain digestive health, probiotic supplements have emerged and become very popular. The probiotics you buy in a bottle are bacteria cultured in a laboratory. Most of them contain additives to preserve the bacteria or make them easier to pour or measure from the bottle. Be wary of store-bought supplements: some contain additives like maltodextrin from genetically-modified corn and manufacturers are not required to list fillers on the labels. If you supplement, look specifically for organic cultures. Adding pill or powdered supplements of any kind poses questions of efficacy and dosage.”
    gut-probiotics
  6. Apples – We’ve all heard the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are said to destroy pathogenic microorganism and feed & heal the immune system.
  7. Kombucha (strong taste, needs to be acquired) – Drinking kombucha is believed by many to be an excellent way to get rid of excessive candida albicans in the gut. I recently had a yummy ginger/pear kombucha tea that I purchased from Natural Grocers. After a colleague made some kombucha, I decided that I, too, would make some. Yup. I have a batch continuously brewing now.
  8. For those that eat meat, I have been told that eating 1 ounce of liver (yuk), three times per week will provide the necessary B-vitamins that are needed to detox your system and achieve gut health. No. I have not yet tried this one.
  9. Lentils or Beans – I highly suggest eating between 1-2 servings per day of legumes.
  10. Coconut water – I absolutely LOVE coconut water! Please make sure to purchase the ones that have no added sugar. You can get coconut water at most natural food stores. I also love coconut milk.
  11. Coconut Oil – I add at least 1 TBLSP every day into my food. Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids that kill candida in the large intestine. An easy way to take it is to add it to eggs in the morning. I just add a TBSP into my bowl and place the scrambled eggs over it to melt it. It tastes good with a little bit of Himalayan sea salt (can be purchased in bulk at the natural food stores).
  12. Basil tea (aka tulsi tea) – This will be the subject of a future food focus. I have enjoyed this tea, however.
  13. Caprylic acid – As we know, restoring a normal balance of microorganisms in the digestive tract is essential to healing the gut. When a yeast overgrowth occurs, natural anti-fungals are a wonderful way to restore balance. Caprylic acid is a fatty acid that has antifungal properties and can be found in certain plants and their oils (e.g.- coconut oil and palm oil). It is also available as a supplement.
  14. Food-grade diatomaceous earth – Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a soft powder that contains fossilized shells of microscopic water-dwelling organisms. Although it feels like a soft powder, the particles are extremely sharp. DE can be used to cleanse the digestive tract by purging parasites, viruses, bacteria, and toxins that may be clinging to our digestive tract. According to an article in ProcessedFreeAmerica.org, “It has also been shown to cling to bad fats in the body, effectively reducing bad cholesterol. Diatomaceous earth is then expelled through our bowel movements and these harmful materials are removed.” 
  15. Fermented cod liver oil is known to contain Vitamin A, D, K, EFAs (I have heard great results as well as awful results with this one. Do your research and proceed with caution). I have used cod-liver oil capsules in the past.
  16. Andrographis for immune system support. I have not used this before. It is known as “King of Bitters” and is believed to improve liver and gall bladder function, aid digestion (by increasing bile flow), and benefit liver function when the liver is toxic or under stress.
  17. Sauerkraut or other raw, fermented foods. – See above. I got way too carried away in the probiotics section.
  18. Brazil Nut (ONLY 1/day) – every day – According to Lawrence Wilson, MD, “individuals with more serious digestive problems, such as Crohn’s disease, stomach stapling or other difficulties, have a much higher risk of selenium deficiency.” Don’t eat too many brazil nuts in one day, because too much selenium can be toxic.
  19. Celtic Sea Salt (a pinch in a glass of water or broth every day) is rich in micro-minerals. I also use the Himalayan sea salt for cooking, etc…
  20. Add a little bit of fresh squeezed lemon juice to water to help alkalinize the body.
  21. Raw LOCAL honey helps bifidum bacteria grow in the gut. Raw local honey has been used for generations to improve immune system health.
  22. Egg yolk – 1 per day (nutrients help detoxification, which supports good gut health). When I first started learning about gut health, I became very familiar with Body Ecology and their materials & books. They “love a good egg”. Eggs are an ancient food and a wonderful source of nutrition. Eggs provide a vital source of protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, folic acid, phosphorus, sulfur, choline, sodium, and potassium. Eggs yolks contain lecithin, which helps lower serum cholesterol.
  23. Stinging Nettles – According to Naturalnews.com, “Nettle leaf is effective at reducing symptoms of the digestive tract ranging from acid reflux, excess gas, nausea, colitis and Celiac disease. Additionally, it’s medicinal action on mucous membranes makes it an effective herbal treatment for sore throats, swollen hemorrhoids, nose bleeds and mouth sores.” ALWAYS consult with your health care practitioner before using any herb extract, infusion, or tincture, as there may be serious side effects when combined with other herbs or pharmaceuticals.
  24. Kelp is a superfood. It is believed to help with liver function, brain function, constipation, and digestion. It is of utmost importance to know the source of the kelp you are consuming to ensure that it was not obtained from polluted waters. Also, do not use it every day, because it contains iodine. MODERATION is the key.
  25. Epsom salt baths – I add 1 cup of Epsom salts and 1 cup of baking soda to the tub. I often add some amazing essential oils to the Epsom salt BEFORE I add it to the water. I would not recommend this practice daily. Three times/week for 20 minutes is an excellent way to help your body detoxify and absorb magnesium (no more than 20 minutes). Epsom salt (hydrated magnesium sulfate) is rich in both magnesium and sulfate, which are both easily absorbed through the skin. sulfates

I am NOT a doctor and any suggestions I have included in this article (and on my website) are provided for your further research and education. I urge you to speak with your health care provider before implementing any of the suggestions provided. 

In closing, remember to not take it too seriously. Life & healing are meant to be fun. “A GOOD GUFFAW FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BELLY” will make your gut happy.

References

  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/04/gut-bacteria-mental-healt_n_6391014.html
  • http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-014-3810-0/fulltext.html
  • http://www.positivehealth.com/article/environmental/health-benefits-of-soil-based-organisms
  • http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/antidepressant-microbes-soil.htm
  • http://wellnessmama.com/12908/kids-need-dirt/
  • http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/what-are-probiotics
  • http://nourishingplot.com/2014/06/21/sauerkraut-test-divulges-shocking-probiotic-count/
  • http://dailyhealthpost.com/lab-results-reveal-shocking-probiotics-count-in-sauerkraut/
  • http://wholehealthchicago.com/2009/05/11/caprylic-acid/
  • http://www.processedfreeamerica.org/resources/health-news/793-health-benefits-of-diatomaceous-earth-
  • http://www.regenerativenutrition.com/king-of-bitters-kalamegha-andrographis-p-180.asp
  • http://drlwilson.com/Articles/SELENIUM2.htm
  • http://www.livestrong.com/article/525634-brazil-nuts-health-digestion/
  • http://bodyecology.com/articles/eggs_controversial_food.php
  • http://www.care2.com/greenliving/health-benefits-of-epsom-salt-baths.html

BALi Food Plan

May 20, 2015

BALi Food Plan

I am often asked which food plan I recommend. The answer is usually the BALI food Plan. Here’s why…

The BALi food plan was developed by Dr. Roby Mitchell, M.D. (read his credentials). BALI stands for: Basic, Antifungal / Antioxidant, Low Insulin. The list can be downloaded from Dr. Mitchell’s Dr. Mitchell’s Website.

baliMy notes: I am an avid reader of health articles. I believe that nature provides us with the answers we need for perfect health. I don’t believe that we can medicate our way out of a health crisis that we have behaved our way into. I have learned a LOT from Dr. Roby. I have been privileged to meet him and I like his authenticity and humility.

There are so many factors involved in being healthy – not all of them are lifestyle related. We are complex beings and each of us has differing needs. No single diet will ever work for everybody. That’s why I love this program.

The Food list was compiled through years of scientific research. Your objective should be to REDUCE inflammation, balance your Blood Glucose, and improve your IMMUNE response. Empower your immune system by CHOOSING powerful foods that provide real nourishment for your cells.

Please let me know how I could support you in reaching your goals. It does not have to be difficult.

Dr. Roby often says: consequence is no coincidence. There are consequences to human meddling with our food supply (GMO’s) so I fully recommend eating Organic foods.

 

Deeply Rooted

May 20, 2015

Deeply Rooted

It’s really all a blur. Last year seems to have flowed by-sometimes seemingly endlessly yet sometimes so swiftly that it made me dizzy. (Like the swelling of a river after a storm that in time subsides to a trickle). Have you ever had moments like those?

My father, Isaac Mordechai Antebi, got promoted in February. Yes, his work on this earth was done. Exactly 1 month shy of his 90th birthday.

I will share with you my gratitude for this giant of a man and I will share with you some of my recollections about this man that I called Papi.

My Papi was deeply rooted. A good man. His work ethic and compassion were deeply ingrained within his spirit. He had a sixth sense about him. He could spot a “charlatan” a mile away.

As a young child, I don’t recall much conversation with my dad. He was working and I was a kid. The first real conversation I recall having with my dad was when I was 16 and my Mom was in Israel taking care of her Mom. It was pretty awkward at first, but we slowly began to have more frequent conversations.

Papi was not a huggy-feely kind of parent (& I’ve always been a huggy-feely kind of free spirit). Let’s just say that we did not always understand each other. You see, communication was not really a strong component in our family dynamics. It was pretty much old school and traditional – Dad worked, Mom took care of the kids & home, we went to school, graduated, got married, and moved away (with at least daily calls and/or visits, of course). It was expected that we behave honorably. Always. It was expected that we behave respectfully. Always. Obligation, duty, and responsibility – we received those lessons on a daily basis.

My dad was fiercely loyal to “Family”. Even to those that deceived him or disrespected him. To him, “Family” was most important. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren so very much. He just never knew how to express it.

When disagreements arose within the siblings, he would expect us to let things go – for the sake of family unity. He was happy as long as we could all “sit around the table” for a meal or gather for a festive occasion. None of the “details” really mattered, as long as we were all together. Lesson learned: This strategy NEVER works.

dad-glossaryHe was highly impatient. “Vamonos” was his most used word. It wouldn’t take too long for him to give my Mom a certain “look” followed by the famous “vamonos” when he’d had enough of anything.

During the last few years of his life, our relationship became strong. I learned (it wasn’t easy) to tell him when I disagreed with him. I learned to stand my ground. He was very demanding. He wanted visitors ALL THE TIME! I could not accommodate all of his requests, but I did my very best to visit often. In fact, he used to get so mad at me when I refused to comply with some of his requests!!!!

We took many, many, many, road trips together. He loved to travel by car! Florida, Colorado via Arkansas, Hot Springs, Waxahachie, (HE LOVED to go to WAXAHACHIE!!!!!)

My dad loved to dance. My parents knew how to shake up the dance floor. They made a beautiful couple when they danced together.

My dad loved ice cream. He did not drink enough water. Ever.

My dad loved Arak.

He loved going to shul. Some of my most treasured memories with him involved our trips to the synagogue. I was very proud to stand up in his honor when he was called to the Torah for a blessing. During the last few months, he was unable to easily walk up to the bimah and it hurt my heart to hear him decline the honor. Our Rabbi and our shul family were wonderful to him. They honored him in every imaginable way and he sang loudly and he breathed more easily when he was at shul. He loved singing the Hallel!!!! And, yes, he was first in line at the shnapps table.

He loved taking a “shot” to say a L’Chaim, anytime. Anywhere. A good whiskey or a shot of Arak made him happy. The most fun for him was having a L’Chaim with his grandchildren. He loved his grandchildren. He carried their pictures in his wallet. Yup. They were his pride and joy.

The day before he died, I came over to pick him up for a promised road trip. He looked at me and said that he was too tired. He said that he didn’t want to sleep but couldn’t help it. He was sitting in his recliner and was unable to stay awake during my visit. I told him that I would come back the next day to take him for a ride. I did come back the next morning, but he was already on his journey home. I love you, Papi.

 

 

Trader Joe’s Made Me Cry

January 14, 2015
Trader Joes

Trader Joe’s Made Me Cry

Have you ever had a moment in your life that you felt as if you were on auto-pilot? I had such a week last week.

I was chugging along doing a million things at once while juggling some difficult family/friend issues. As many of you know, I am usually a very happy person, so many times strangers can’t tell when I am facing a challenging moment. As you also probably know, I LOVE nutrition and healthy living and happily rattle about such matters to anyone that cares to listen.

That was the case last week. I ran into Trader Joe’s (Plano, Texas) to get a few items for home (fridge was pretty bare) and I was running back to visit a loved one at the hospital. [Side-note: Trader Joe’s employees have got to be the friendliest employees on the planet!!!] The beautiful young lady at the cash register commented on the healthy choices I made and I took the opportunity to remind her that it’s never too early to live a healthy lifestyle, as some of my loved ones are suffering through tremendous health challenges. I also asked her not to pack my mineral water because I really needed a drink (my attempt at humor for the day) and that was it for my ride to the hospital.

After I paid my bill, she asked me to wait a minute while someone from customer service approached and handed her a bouquet of flowers, which she promptly gave to me. She assured me that “everything is going to be ok” and gave me a big hug. Frankly, such kindness brought me to tears.

I applaud this young lady & I applaud Trader Joe’s for supporting their employees to treat their customers with kindness, friendliness & compassion. Thank you, Trader Joe’s!

We never truly know what’s going on in someone’s life or the challenges each person faces. Behind somebody’s smile there could be heartbreak.

This random act of kindness made my day and I will pay it forward. I challenge you to do a random act of kindness.

Trader Joes

He Makes A Difference

December 18, 2014
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He Makes A Difference

Every once in a while we are blessed to meet a person that is such a Mentsch that you cannot help but wish him success in everything he does. Eleven years ago, I met such a man.

In December of 2002, I spent a day in the City of Cedar Hill, Texas. I was in town for a family event and decided to spend a day at my new place of employment to get to know the people a bit before I started my new job (in January). Little did I know that I would meet a man that would so change my life for better.

Let me tell you a little bit about this man. Mr. Greg Porter (a.k.a. Porter) is a man who cares. He cares about his employees, he has the heart of a servant, and he will go out of his way to do things for people (sometimes in secret mode) because he is humble.

He also has some interesting sayings. “Don’t get your knickers in a wad”, he would tell me. Such and such will happen when “cats and dogs sleep together”. Mr. Porter is the voice of calm & reason (….well, almost always).

He taught me a lot. It is a sincere privilege to be counted among his friends and an extreme honor to have had the pleasure of working for him.

Mr. Greg Porter serves his city with love, respect, integrity, and humility. The City of Cedar Hill is blessed to have such an amazing new City Manager.

May G-d Bless You and your family and may you always have 100% Total Success.

With Respect & Love,

Ruthie (Anatoly) Guten

FullSizeRender

Sleep Matters

November 26, 2014

sleep-lackSleep Matters

Having a good night’s sleep is important to our quality of life in many ways:

  • Lack of sleep affects our mood.
  • Lack of sleep affects our health.
  • Lack of sleep affects our productivity.

I can only speak for myself. When I don’t get enough sleep and I don’t feel adequately rested, my mood can swing from pensive to giggly.  It definitely alters my productivity. I see a marked difference in my concentration if I have had a good night’s sleep.

For me, the most important item on the list above is how lack of sleep affects our health. According to Dr. Erica Mallery-Blythe, “sleep loss impairs immune function & immune challenge alters sleep”, so it’s a vicious cycle. According to Dr. Mallery-Blythe, sleep deprivation delays wound & burn healing, decreases white blood cell count, and impairs working memory – which, in turn, impairs decision making, reasoning, episodic memory, and lowers seizure thresholds.

There are many symptoms associated with sleep deprivation, such as: aching muscles, confusion, memory lapses (or loss), depression, hallucinations, hand tremors, headaches, malaise, sensitivity to cold, bloodshot eyes, puffiness around the eyes, increased blood pressure, increased stress hormones, increased risk of diabetes, increased fibromyalgia, irritability, obesity, child temper tantrums, yawning, and some symptoms that are similar to ADHD & Psychosis. And, By the way, complete sleep deprivation leads to death, she says.

Recent research at UCLA indicates that there may be a connection between improved lifestyle habits, including improved sleep hygiene, and improved outcomes for Alzheimer’s patients.

The amount of sleep that each person requires varies.  There are folks that swear that they don’t need more than 5 hours of sleep per night. Others, like me, need a minimum of 8 hours of good quality sleep in order to feel healthy.

Here are some tips that will hopefully help you determine what areas you can improve so that you can consistently obtain good quality rest:

  • Consistently maintain regular bedtime and wake-up hours (even on weekends and holidays).
  • Don’t go to bed unless you are sleepy.
  • Keep your bedroom dark. Even the slightest glow from an alarm clock can disrupt your ability to sleep.
  • If you don’t go to sleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed. Return to bed only if you’re sleepy.
  • Avoid caffeine consumption (tea, cola, coffee, chocolate) within 4 hours to 8 hours of bedtime.
  • Exercise regularly, but avoid intense physical activity 3 hours before bedtime.
  • Keep a regular schedule – regular times for meals, etc…
  • Avoid daytime naps. If you must take a nap, do so before 3 pm.
  • Avoid eating a meal 2 hours before bedtime (a light snack can help avoid hunger pangs and aid sleep).
  • Avoid stressful or noisy distractions while trying to sleep (noisy clocks, bright lights, uncomfortable clothes or bedding).
  • Avoid alcohol consumption & nicotine 2 hours before bedtime, which can disturb sleep quality.
  • Create a relaxing bedtime routine (book, music, bath, relaxation technique).
  • If you have difficulty relaxing at bedtime, essential oils, like lavender or chamomile in a diffuser (or in a bath) might help to soothe you enough to relax. You might also want to utilize some herbal relaxation aids such as valerian, passionflower, hops, or lemon balm may be helpful.
  • Get enough sleep so that you feel well-rested nearly every day.
  • Use the bed for sex and sleep only (no TV, laptop computer, reading, etc.)

The bedroom should be calming, quiet, dark, and a little bit cool and make sure your bed is warm & comfortable. I urge you to consider avoidance of any electronics in the bedroom – including TVs and cell phones.

There are many possible reasons for our lack of sleep. if we habitually have a problem getting enough rest, it is imperative that we analyze what is causing us to lose sleep at night. It might take a bit of detective work on our part. For example, I have been doing a lot of research on EMF’s, since I have noticed a dramatic change in my sleep quantity & quality since a new smart meter was installed at our home. Coincidentally, the meter is on the brick wall that lies along the headboard of our bed.  (I’ll be writing a separate blog post on my research & findings. I’ve also been doing some research on Inclined Bed Therapy. I am fascinated by this topic & plan to write an article about this as well.)

Last, but not least, my colleague, Rosangel Perez, and I recorded a blog talk radio show called Tips For Better Sleep, which inspired this blog post. You can listen to our recorded show here.

References:

Huffington Post Article: 37 Science Backed Tips For Better Sleep Tonight
Sleep Hygiene Tips, University of Maryland, 2005

Huffington Post Article: 9 Surprising Reasons You Can’t Fall Asleep

Dr. Erica Mallery-Blythe: British Society of Ecological Medicine (BSEM-March 2014)

Cafecito Break – The Voice of The Awakening Woman,November 17, 2014

Disclaimer:  The information contained in this article is provided for informational or educational purposes only and is not intended to be, or serve as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Always seek your doctor’s advice.

Brain Powers

November 18, 2014
Mind Powers

Brain Powers

I’m on a quest.
We are all on a quest. What’s yours?
Do you have a clear vision of what you really want?

Why do you want it? Are you sure you want it? Can you see it? Can you feel it? Can you define it?

Sometimes, the easiest questions have the most complex answers. For years, I’ve been asking myself what do I really want? My answers have always been pretty vague.

I want world peace. Yup. Don’t we all?

No, really, what do I really want?

It finally dawned on me that I have never really thought about what I wanted enough to really want something specific. My desires were always linked to the wellbeing of my loved ones and myself. Really. In fact, I often have a really difficult time deciding simple things.

My husband has a difficult time buying gifts for me. When he asks me what I want, I draw a blank. (He doesn’t. He loves gadgets and seems to have an on-demand list of fun things to get or to do.) Me? I draw a blank.

My dear friend (and long-time confidante) has always told me to be clear. Have a clear goal. Stay focused. The universe will always conspire to give you that on which you focus. If you focus on lack, you get more lack. My friend, Carl, used to quote his uncle who’d say: “‘Well, it could have been worse’, and, by golly, it got worse”.

Here is what I’ve learned so far:

  • We have been imprinted with a belief system since childhood
  • Our brains are like a computer. Everything we have ever heard is stored in this magnificent computer. It’s up to us to continually fill our brains with positive statements. Eventually, the number of positive beliefs will outnumber the negative imprints we have received.
  • Our spinal column is like an antennae system. We are constantly transmitting and receiving energy. Like a tuning fork, we emit a particular frequency. Those that are vibrating at a similar frequency will recognize our energy and be drawn to us. (The Law of Attraction). I believe that timing is an issue. If we focus on something that is too specific, we might miss out on something even better. It gets kind of tricky, so it’s important to be specific enough with our request to achieve our goal, yet vague enough to allow for adjustments that would be for the greater good of all involved.
  • We are in control. It’s up to us to create the most amazing life we can.
  • It’s good to feel good. When we feel joy, we receive more joy.

As an engineer, I need to understand the steps. I need a “how-to” manual. Recently, I listened to John Kehoe, author of Harness The Power Of Your Mind. Here are some action items that I took away from that talk:

  • Imprint prosperity beliefs into our consciousness.
  • Watch our thoughts.
  • Redirect through affirmations.
  • Develop a prosperity consciousness.

We imprint empowering beliefs into our consciousness by thinking about the power of the mind.

He tells us to ponder the statement “I have unlimited power at my disposal” for 5 minutes every night. Contemplate it. Affirm it. He suggests that we practice this consistently every day for 60-90 days and cautions us to not miss a day because repetition is the key to the mind’s powers.

Another suggestion he made is that we make a list of at least 15-20 things that make us feel really successful about whom we are right now. By doing so, we are creating a vibration of success in the present time. Success is a vibration and It attracts more success. For example: “I’m a good parent”, or “I’m a good friend”.  When we start our day by spending 5 minutes going over this list and feeling really good about whom we are now, we start our day in a “success” state of mind.

Another way to imprint prosperity consciousness beliefs into our mind is by visualization (which is a way of imprinting). We can visualize ourselves reaching our goal as if it were happening right now. Not in the future.

It is an abundant universe and we can take time to recognize and acknowledge the prosperity that surrounds us. For example, when we see buildings, we recognize that there are owners, builders, tenants, and even luxury penthouse owners. There’s so much wealth around us. Money represents a transfer of energy and it constantly flows from one place to another. There is an abundance of money all around us.  Money is available. According to CNN, there are millions of millionaires. In the US alone, there were 9.6 million millionaires in 2013.

What’s your calling? Have a good idea? Now is the perfect time to go for it and take the initiative. It is an abundant universe. There are staggering opportunities available to us – more than we even know. And they come in different shapes & sizes.

It’s our duty and responsibility to succeed. Each and every one of us has an answer to a problem on this planet. We’re all plugged into the same universe. We have a contribution to make. Honor your calling. It’s an opportunity for the world to receive your gifts. Follow your bliss. Bliss begins with gratitude.

A great way to practice gratitude on a consistent basis is to make a list of all the things in our life that we are grateful for. There are wonderful groups like The Gratitude Movement on FaceBook where we can publicly share our gratitude on a consistent basis. It’s important to find something everyday for which we are grateful.

Another step we can take is to practice philanthropy, give generously, or tithe. He suggests that we give away a percentage of what we receive.  According to John Kehoe, psychologically, it needs to be a declared percentage. He says that when we create a practice of giving, whatever we give away comes back to us manifold yet when we give away out of our lack it creates personal energy of lack. In other words, if we have a hard time giving away it means we don’t trust the universe and if we don’t trust the universe, we are not open to receiving abundance and prosperity.

Let’s take his advice and anticipate our success.  I can’t wait till we are all financially successful and I am excited about the wondrous probabilities and possibilities that are in front of us.

 

Learnmindpower.com

Thank you to my teachers & mentors, including but not limited to: Dr. Bruce Berkowsky, Coach Joe (R.I.P), Dr. Gary Berman, & Abraham, P’Taah, Kryon, Ramtha, and other spiritual teachers that are so important to me.

Beauty Starts With Me

August 3, 2014
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Beauty Starts With Me

You Are Enough! You Are Beautiful!

Have you ever felt uncomfortable because of your appearance?

A few weeks ago, I had a very uncomfortable experience. I didn’t feel pretty enough. Enough for what? That question got me going. I started wondering about how others define the concept of beauty. I did a Google image search for the word “Beauty” and I was SHOCKED at the images that I saw!

That same day, I saw an image of a young lady who had been bullied by her class. Someone tried to shame her body with graffiti. She reacted in an awesome way. Here’s an article about the incident.

The next morning, as I sat in the dentist’s chair, I saw an interview of a young lady who produced a music video about healthy body image. I did not remember the name of the young lady. The important thing to note is that I left the dentist’s office with a strong desire to see the world through different eyes.

I am beautiful.

I see beautiful things.

I see the beauty in you.

Beauty. Starts. With. Me.

Beauty. Starts. With. You.

I wanted to do something tangible to promote the idea of beauty. Real beauty. So I created a website called BeautyStartsWithMe.com and have started to share posts on social media with the hashtag #BeautyStartsWithMe.

Please take a few minutes to read the stories, poems, or watch the videos posted, etc… Each entry is inspirational.

Please help me spread the word by sharing your story and using the following hashtag on social media sites: #BeautyStartsWithMe.

Grow Your Own Food

May 29, 2014

Grow Your Own Food

Grow Your Own Food

Our Tower Garden

For many years, I have been a staunch advocate of organically produced foods, supporting local farmers, and eliminating harmful GMOs. Dennis & I researched hydroponic systems, and truthfully, we hesitated. Why did we hesitate, you ask?

For beginners, we never had much of a green thumb. We seemed to destroy most plants that came into our care. But we really wanted to be part of the solution!!! Finally, about one year after starting our research, we decided to purchase a Tower Garden. It’s pretty much as easy as it gets. Plug & Play. It uses a fraction of the water that regular agricultural methods require and we can bring it indoors during winter with a grow light.

Now, we have gotten the gardening bug and have branched out to a very small herb & tomato garden (in an old, red wheelbarrow).
wheelbarrow garden

Next? A garden labyrinth… See? you take one small step & your journey unfolds!!!! Please call me if you want to visit our tower garden or if you want more information. If you decide that you absolutely love this idea and want one for yourself, online ordering is available. I’d really appreciate it!!!

Song of Eve

January 16, 2014

Song of Eve

violin-clip-art-8

The Touch of the Masters Hand

“Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,
but held it up with a smile; “What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?” “A dollar, a dollar”; then two!” “Only
two? Two dollars, and who’ll make it three? Three dollars, once; three
dollars twice; going for three..” But no, from the room, far back, a
gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust
from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody
pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.”

Last night, I was once again privileged to learn from my teacher & mentor, Dr. Bruce Berkowsky. The subject of the class was how to potentize a blend of essential oils by the use of his magical protocol called Spiritual PhytoEssencing. The blend that was the subject of our class is called Song of Eve.

A potentized blend carries the spark (the essence) of the essential oils blend after the physical elements of the actual blend have been stripped away.

“In order to reach the essence of the fruit…we must relate to its innermost aspects, its spiritual dimension. This dimension is called the Godly spark of the object…Each and every object has its Godly dimension, which is the reality revealed when the material aspect is stripped away.”
— Rabbi Yechiel Bar Lev

 

Here’s a video that beautifully demonstrates how water has memory. It’s similar to the potentizing effect that we are utilizing in Spiritual PhytoEssencing.

I want to share a story of another Eve that I remembered during last night’s class. Years ago, there was an old violin maker and his wife that owned The Violin Specialty Shop on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas. His name was Earnest Lindsay. His wife’s name was Thelma.

When I was in high school, I used to go play violin for them and spend time with them. He was a paraplegic and didn’t get out too often.

There were violins hanging on the north wall of the shop. Mr. Lindsay would let me play any violin I chose except for one: Miss Eve. Miss Eve was made as a gift to another young lady who would frequent his shop. She was a young Jewish girl named Eve. She also would play the violin for them. Apparently, Eve fell in love with a Muslim man when she went to school at a nearby University (the same University where I got my degree, coincidentally), married him and disconnected herself from her family and friends 100%.

Mr. Lindsay was heartbroken. He would only let us (I brought friends along to play for him sometimes) play Miss Eve occasionally, to keep the violin from deteriorating. He once told me that he was always hoping that she would come back to play it someday.

What happened to Mr. Lindsay? He passed away from a heart attack. The last time I saw him he was at the hospital. He didn’t want me to see him in that condition and he rushed me away. I never forgot him. He loved the Mountains.

What happened to “Miss Eve”? – an old preacher named Bob inherited Miss Eve when Mrs. Lindsay passed away. I don’t remember his last name. He was one of the people that used to come and watch over the couple.

I once tried to find Eve on campus. I started asking around about her. One day, an Immam came up to me and asked me why I was looking for Eve. He instructed me that she is married and has a new way of life and as such she is not allowed to have contact with anyone associated with her past. He warned me to stop trying to find her because she did not want to be found.

I remember Mr. Lindsay telling me how her Mom and family were heartbroken when she “disappeared”.

Last night, I couldn’t help but feel that the blend, Song of Eve, can help to heal the soul of all those affected by her story.

Once again, I am blessed beyond measure that Dr. Berkowsky has created such an amazing protocol and I thank him for bringing us this amazing gift.

One last thought:

On the back of his business card, Mr. Lindsay had an excerpt of this poem:

The Touch of the Masters Hand

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,
but held it up with a smile; “What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?” “A dollar, a dollar”; then two!” “Only
two? Two dollars, and who’ll make it three? Three dollars, once; three
dollars twice; going for three..” But no, from the room, far back, a
gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust
from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody
pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,
said; “What am I bid for the old violin?” And he held it up with the bow.
A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two? Two thousand! And who’ll make
it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and
gone,” said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, “We do not
quite understand what changed its worth.” Swift came the reply: “The touch
of a master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A
“mess of pottage,” a glass of wine; a game – and he travels on. “He is
going” once, and “going twice, He’s going and almost gone.” But the Master
comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul
and the change that’s wrought by the touch of the Master’s hand.

-Myra ‘Brooks’ Welch

The Magic of Smoothies

March 3, 2013

The Magic of Smoothies

I Have Discovered The Magic Of Smoothies

I recently made the most amazing smoothie. I was sitting at my computer writing this post when I realized that I had forgotten to eat lunch. As I didn’t want to break the “flow” of creativity (haha) I decided that I would make a quick smoothie. Here’s what I added to my Nutribullet: kale, home-made almond milk, banana, maca powder, and a little bit of pineapple juice. Yummy.

So what exactly was in my lunch?

  • Kale
  • Almond Milk
  • Dates
  • Bananas
  • Maca Powder
  • Pineapple

So now I have wonderful friends with refrigerator rights (what are refrigerator rights, you ask? That’s the topic of a future blog post) that drop by for a quick-smoothie-fix every so often!!

I also love my Breville juicer and use it almost every day. Here’s a blog post I recently published if you’re debating whether to add fresh juices to your daily nourishment plan or stick with smoothies. They’re both great ways to add amazing nutrition to your life!

Smoothies vs. Juices

March 3, 2013

Smoothies vs. Juices

In my opinion, both fresh fruits and vegetable juices AND smoothies are wonderful ways to nourish yourself. There are some incredible healing protocols that feature fresh fruits & vegetable juices, like the Gerson Therapy. There’s even a really good documentary called the Gerson Miracle that has been available on Netflix. If you or someone you love is facing critical health issues, I urge you to read the book or watch the documentary.

Smoothies are wonderful because they allow you to incorporate the whole fruit/vegetable into your drink. It’s an easy way to add powerful ingredients like leafy greens to your diet. Many of us fail to consume enough fruits and vegetables during the day. (I recommend 8-9 servings of fruits/veggies per day). How many servings of fruits and veggies do YOU eat daily on a regular basis?

It Burns So Good!

February 1, 2013

It Burns So Good!

Last month, on Rosh Chodesh (the New Moon), I joined hundreds of people across the globe in a “virtual” event. I was invited to the Master Tonic Party. Ok, so it sounds pretty weird. Actually, it was tremendous fun!

I have been asked by many of my friends to post the recipe, so here it is:

Master Tonic Ingredients

1 part fresh chopped or grated garlic cloves
1 part fresh chopped or grated white onions, or the hottest onions available
1 part fresh grated ginger root (increases circulation to the extremities)
1 part fresh grated horseradish root (increases blood flow to the head)
1 part fresh chopped or grated Cayenne peppers, Jalapenos, Serranos, Habeneros, African bird peppers….any combination of the hottest peppers available

The garlic cloves and onions are antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitical. The ginger root increases circulation to the extremities. The horseradish root increases the blood flow to the head. More on the various peppers in a future blog post. Come back soon.

In lieu of the horseradish, I used Daikon radishes, as I had those on hand and was on too tight a schedule to run to the market and buy the horseradish.

Try to use fresh organic ingredients, whenever possible.

Here are the instructions, as I received them:

  1. Fill a jar 3/4 full with equal amounts of the garlic, onion, radish, ginger and peppers.
  2. Top it off with raw, unfiltered, unbleached, non-distilled, organic apple cider vinegar.
  3. Cover it well
  4. Store it in a cool pantry for a period of two weeks.
  5. Shake it daily. Shake it well. At least once per day. Twice daily would be great.
master tonic blend

Ready To Be Stored Away For 2 Weeks

This recipe whould be prepared during the NEW MOON and strained & bottled on the FULL MOON (approximately two weeks). The mixture should be strained well before bottling it.

I decided to get a bit creative. Here are the steps that I took:

  1. Strained the entire amount through a large-mesh sieve
  2. Strained the fluid through a fine-mesh sieve
  3. “nutri-blasted” the remaining pulp in batches by filling the large nutribullet cup 3/4 full with pulp and additional apple cider vinegar to the “fill line” and processing it until smooth.
  4. Strained the nutri-blasted pulp through the two sieves
  5. Strained the residue through a cheesecloth bag
  6. Placed the dry pulp on a stone tray and placed it in the oven to dry at a temoerature of 115F
    The last step was interesting because I had to manually squeeze the cheesecloth bag to obtain all of the remaining fluid. WARNING: USE GLOVES OR A PLASTIC BAGGIE OVER YOUR HANDS TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN.
  7. Bottle the liquid & label the bottles.

Here are the pictures of the results:

master tonic blend

Ready To Be Labeled

master tonic blend

Once dry, the residue can be milled to a fine powder that can be used as a seasoning.

master tonic blend powder

Residue Can Be Used As Seasoning

L’Chaim!!!!

master tonic shot

 

2012 – A Roller-Coaster Year

December 19, 2012
My Family

2012 – A Roller-Coaster Year

This year has been a roller coaster year. We have experienced many highs, and many lows. I cannot even begin to give you a detailed explanation of everything that has happened, so I won’t even try. I will, however, give you some highlights.

It’s been months since my newsletter subscribers received one of my newsletters. Since then, my family has become larger. We welcomed a new daughter-in-law with open hearts and open arms. Our son, David, married his sweetheart, Amy. The wedding, and all of the festivities leading up to the wedding, was amazing. We not only acquired a new daughter, we joined a wonderful family. I am humbled and grateful beyond belief.

family-wedding

Click to watch a short video recap of the wedding highlights

Unfortunately, about a week after our return from Colorado Springs, where the wedding was held, my darling husband, Dennis (a.k.a. Gushin), became critically ill. He was admitted to the hospital with acute pancreatitis as a result of a dislodged gallstone that decided to block the pancreatic duct. You can read more about his journey on his blog post. I learned many things during his hospital visit:

  1. Every hospital patient requires a full-time advocate.
  2. Doctors don’t usually have a clue about nutrition.
  3. There are human angels.
  4. Hospital nutritionists (registered dieticians) don’t like it when a patient’s advocate gets directly involved in planning the patient’s meals according to the principle of nourishment vs. caloric intake.

Since Dennis’ release from the hospital, my life has been consumed in getting back to basics.

I’ve devoted much of my time and effort on the DFW Health Coaches. We have held workshops, events, provided health coaching at corporate health fairs, and have started to develop the necessary paperwork to become a non-profit organization. The mission of the DFW Health Coaches is to collaborate on efforts of regional significance in order to promote and create health and wellness in the DFW area, as well as to support the work of the health coaches in our region.

I participated in advanced training in the art of spiritual phyto-essencing, and was even honored with the opportunity to lead my second case-study class as a group leader. My teacher and mentor, Dr. Bruce Berkowsky, is inspiring me to yet deeper and deeper levels of knowledge and understanding.

I have volunteered on several local committees of significance to my community, including a business-networking group that is open to the entire community. Please contact me if you would like to connect. If you are a business owner in the DFW area, we are hosting a business expo in February.  We are here to support each other. We are here to support our local economy. Please consider supporting local vendors and local farmers whenever possible.

I am also becoming involved in an effort that supports the work of an organization called Mazon. Our goal is to eliminate hunger. We have so much for which to be grateful. There are so many children and elderly who don’t have enough food to eat. This is unacceptable. We have the means. We have the ability, and yes, we have the money to make sure that nobody is hungry in our community, in our County, in our State, and in our Country. If you want to be involved, please let me know.

As you know, our health care system is in shambles.

  • Heart disease kills 7.1 million people worldwide per year.
  • In 2009, 7.9 million people died from cancer and that number is expected to increase to 11 million lives per year by 2030.
  • The number of people expected to develop diabetes by 2030 is approximately 336 million.

We can do better. We must do better. As many of you know, last year I became certified as a First Line Therapy Lifestyle Educator. This program, which provides an amazing diabetes prevention and reversal system and has the backing of numerous clinical research studies, was developed by Metagenics.  Please let me know if you would like additional information on the First Line Therapy Program or any of the available Metagenics supplements. I have personally witnessed the positive results of selective supplementation based on individual client requirements.

Although I have personally witnessed the positive effects of the Metagenics protocol, I feel very strongly about reversing the trend of diabetes can be accomplished without supplements. I have also felt extremely uncomfortable about associating the diabetes prevention and reversal education with supplementation. Therefore, I was thrilled beyond belief to find out about a program called Diabetes Free America. I was so impressed with the CEO of the company and the program that was developed by his father, Dr. Ted Chandler, MD, FACP, that I am now a licensed provider. Yes, blood sugar can be reversed in as little at 21 days. My colleague and business partner Deneice Scott and I will be launching our weekly workshops starting in January. If you have diabetes, are at risk for developing diabetes, or know someone who is at risk, please contact me.

I must admit that time management is one of my greatest challenges. My darling Gushin often tells me that I always try to cram too many projects into one day. I have often stated that I dislike the fact that I have to stop working to sleep. OY!

As I write this post, I have many projects on my to-do list. Although our finances have suffered tremendously this past year, my abundance is clear and plentiful in everything that really matters. My heart is full. I love. I laugh. I smile. I am available to support those that need my assistance in whatever realm I can be of service.

I will (without promise) try to write more often.

 

Energize Your Body

September 21, 2012

Energize Your Body

Have you heard of Earthing (also called grounding)? I recently read some articles about the use of earthing where it is described as “direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the surface of the Earth. ” In other words, walking outside barefoot, lying on a beach, or sitting on the grass. Modern research indicates that our lifestyle, which does not encourage direct contact between our bodies and the earth, may be the disconnect that contributes to “physiological dysfunction and unwellness”.

When I read the articles, I got charged up. Literally! I am a firm believer in energy healing. I have always believed that pain is the result of stagnation of energy along our body’s energy meridians and to release the pain one must release the energy blockage. I have previously utilized healing modalities such as reflexology, acupuncture, and Reiki and believe strongly in the healing nature of plant essences (essential oils). According to my teacher, Dr. Bruce Berkowsky, “Essential oils are both biochemical and bioenergetic entities. Hence, their chemical properties can be used to act upon the biophysical plane and/or their bioenergetic properties can be used to directly interact on the non-material energy plane with human bioenergy.” (For more information on the use of essential oils as an energetic healing modality, please visit my other website, E-Scentially Yours.com).

Many cultures throughout the world have included references to the subtle energy fields that animate our bodies: Chi (Chinese), Prana (India & Tibet), Nefesh (Hebrew), Ki (Japan), Baraka (Sufis), the Holy Spirit (Christians), pneuma (ancient Greeks), with energy pathways also being described as meridians, chakras, or sefirot.

As reported by Dr. Mercola, an article from the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health website entitled Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons, lists the following conditions that can be positively affected by the practice of Earthing:

  • Sleep disturbances, including sleep apnea
  • Chronic muscle and joint pain, and other types of pain
  • Asthmatic and respiratory conditions
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • PMS
  • Hypertension
  • Energy levels
  • Stress
  • Immune system activity and response
  • Heart rate variability
  • Primary indicators of osteoporosis
  • Fasting glucose levels among people with diabetes

I was intrigued. Did you know that over 60 Million Americans live with chronic pain? I’ve personally witnessed how chronic pain has affected people that I love. Many pain sufferers have tried everything medically possible to find relief, to no avail. Can you imagine having a headache that lasts for years? I know two people that do.

According to the American Medical Association, approximately 100 million people suffer from one or more chronic diseases and over 180,000 are killed every year by medical care. Nearly 100,000 Americans each year die from errors caused by medical errors. It’s time for safer healing therapies. Every day, more and more people are utilizing alternative therapies for healing.

There are many causes of pain, including arthritis, back pain, bone pain, joint pain and muscle pain as well as pain that is associated with conditions such as fibromyalgia or cancer. Recently, I was told about a technology that is being used by healthcare practitioners to manage pain that has resulted from a variety of conditions. The technology isn’t new, yet it has only recently been approved by the FDA for the treatment of pain. It is electrotherapy. A colleague told me about the incredible results she has witnessed firsthand with people using the machine on ankle sprains, knee injuries,  and  even Parkinsons. It was time for an experiential field trip and further investigation. Here’s what I found:

  • Electromedicine is one of the oldest sciences known. There is a plethora of documentation that dates back to ancient Greece.
  • In the 1700s, Benjamin Franklin documented pain relief from “frozen shoulder” by using electrical currents
  • In 1891, Nikola Tesla presented a paper about the medical application of high frequency electrical currents.
  • In 1908, there was a published paper in Germany on the treatment of joint disease using high frequency electrical currents.
  • In 1981, there was a book published in the U.S. called The Body Electric which challenged the understanding of the body and puts forth a theory that electricity is vital to life.
  • In 2000, Electrical Muscle Stimulation and hydrotherapy are used to exercise the muscles of a paraplegic of eight years. The patient regained limited movement and sensation in the body.
  • In 2007, an electrotherapy machine was approved by the FDA that was designed to provide electrical stimulation to treat chronic pain.
I used the machine to run the liver cleanse program. The experience was quite relaxing and pleasant. I had two electrodes strategically placed on my body and held two stainless steel cylinders in my hands. There was a slight tingling in my hands as the electrical frequencies shifted per the programmed code on the machine. The program lasted for 33 minutes. If you want to know more specific details about how I felt after the treatment, let me know. I’ll be happy to discuss it with you.

The technology has been available for over 60 years. It has been used extensively throughout the world and is commonly used in hospitals and clinics in Europe. It is finally available in the US. According to Nenah Sylver, PhD,  in the article entitled Healing with Electromedicine and Sound Therapies:

“Every molecule, cell, living body, and object is comprised of energy that manifests as physical matter….With electromedicine therapies, healing is achieved by working with the electromagnetic radiation (emissions) and related energy fields that form, and are emitted by, physical matter.”

As stated in the NIH report,

“Emerging evidence shows that contact with the Earth—whether being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounded conductive systems—may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, ANS dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed HRV, hypercoagulable blood, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease. The research done to date supports the concept that grounding or earthing the human body may be an essential element in the health equation along with sunshine, clean air and water, nutritious food, and physical activity.”

When was the last time you felt the grass under your feet? Maybe it’s time to kick off your shoes (and socks), walk barefoot on the earth, enjoy the sunshine (Vitamin D) and listen to some healing music (more on the benefits of sound therapy later). It’s time to let the healing begin…

References:

Healing with Electromedicine and Sound Therapies, by Nenah Sylver, PhD

Why Walking Barefoot Might Be an Essential Element of Good Health, By. Dr. Mercola

Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons, J Environ Public Health. 2012; 2012: 291541. Published online 2012 January 12. doi: 10.1155/2012/291541

The Heart of Energy and Wellness, A Renaissance of Health and Self-Healing, an article included in the pamphlet I obtained from the manufacturer of the electrotherapy machine I used this in preparation for this article.

Aerial Spraying and West Nile Virus

August 20, 2012

Aerial Spraying and West Nile Virus

20120820-061637.jpgSo last night before it was even dark, we saw aerial spraying in the Richardson area. We were out and about, so we were exposed to the neurotoxins. Spraying is needed, you say? The truth is that spraying doesn’t work. A colleague of mine decided to prove this point and obtained permission from a family member to place a mosquito trap in their backyard (where aerial spraying has been conducted). The results, seven mosquitoes were on his hand before he even set the trap. This is just a PR stunt to make us feel that they are trying to eliminate the threat of WNV. BTW, my colleague is a city official who is trying to educate his city council on why aerial spraying doesn’t help. Even if mosquitoes are killed, the larvae survive. What’s the point?? I’m not happy about this. At all. We, the public, we’re not given a voice. City of Richardson, I am disappointed in your decision to follow the Dallas County approach. It is irresponsible and now we have all been exposed to pesticides.20120820-061758.jpg

Healing at the Soul Level

August 14, 2012
 · No Comments

Healing at the Soul Level

 

Are you happy? Truly happy? Do you love what you do every day?

How many of us pass our days fulfilling obligations and doing what’s expected of us?

What are your dreams? What is your passion? Are you in love?

Do you ever ponder these questions?

When we are born, we have our entire life ahead of us. An open slate. A blank canvas. The stories of our lives are painted on the canvas. Every page in our book comes alive with different characters, smells, textures, emotions, and colors. If we were to think of one page at a time, we might get overwhelmed. But there is a fluidity in the book that evolves as one moment transitions into the next.

Sometimes, the stories are boring and sometimes the stories are exciting. Sometimes we are the main character and sometimes we are a supporting member of the cast. Sometimes we are the star of the show and sometimes we are the light that shines upon someone else that is in the middle of the production.

The important thing to note is that this is our story. We are responsible for every letter in our book. This is huge!!! What if we have made choices that have brought us unhappy stories? Guess what? We can choose again!

20120814-235055.jpgHow do we know that we are following our soul’s journey? How do we know if the decision we are making is appropriate? The answer always lies in how we feel. What emotions are you feeling right now? Are you troubled? Happy? Sad? Hopeful? Curious? ….eh, bored? (I hope not bored).

Think back to a day that you were really happy. What were you doing? Who were you with? What were you wearing? How did you look?

Now think about a day when you felt really miserable and ask yourself those very same questions.

Now, how do you feel as you ponder your memories?

Emotions are powerful. You can use your emotions as your guidance system. Focus on your feelings and be honest with yourself about what they mean to you.

If you feel stuck and in a rut, please don’t just shrug your shoulders. Take action – spend time with a friend, start a hobby, volunteer, watch a comedy, read a book, or go for a walk. Do something out of the ordinary. Listen to the sounds around you. Smell the aromas. Stretch. Smile at a stranger. People watch. Immerse yourself in life. Then take a deep breath and make a choice to write your next chapter in bright colors and beautiful memories.

This is your life. Write your book in joy and happiness and don’t forget to keep me posted as to your soul’s journey.

Protect Your Health – Protect Your Teeth

February 29, 2012

Protect Your Health – Protect Your Teeth

Did you know that your diet and dental care could affect your chances of having a heart attack or stroke? This topic was discussed at the American Heart Association’s 84th annual meeting in Orlando last November.  Research conducted in Taiwan found that those who get regular dental care actually have a reduced rate of strokes and heart attacks. According to an article published in the Orlando Sentinel:  “Researchers followed more than 100,000 adults over seven years and found that those who had their teeth cleaned, or scaled, by a dental professional at least once had a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and a 13 percent lower risk of stroke than those who never had a dental cleaning.”

Oral health affects overall body health. There are specific conditions that are associated with poor oral health:

  • Heart disease – oral bacteria might contribute to the accumulation of atherosclerosis plaque
  • Diabetes exaggerates oral health problems & oral health problems exaggerates diabetes. Dental problems make diabetes difficult to control.
  • Pregnancy and birth – Women with gum disease are at higher risk of delivering pre-term low birth weight babies.
  • Osteoporosis – Osteoporosis is a risk factor for oral health. If you have osteoporosis, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you speak with your dentist about the treatment you are receiving for osteoporosis. Fosamax, which is used to treat osteoporosis, has been reported to have side effects, such as jaw necrosis, which can lead to serious dental problems and complications. Make sure your dental professional is aware if you are taking Fosamax.
The American Dental Association is the organization that most people associate with oral health. After all, it has been around since the 1800’s and is a member-owned organization. Let’s take a look at the ADA’s guidelines for good oral hygiene:
  • Brush your teeth twice a day (with an ADA approved FLUORIDE toothpaste)
  • Clean in between teeth daily (floss or use an interdental cleaner).
  • Eat a balanced diet (limit between meal snacks)
  • Have a dental exam and cleaning regularly.

The ADA website also encourages the use of mouth rinses and toothpastes that are anti-microbial as well as fluoride mouth rinses, with a recommendation that children under the age of six should not use fluoride containing products, as they might swallow the rinse.

So why is oral health important? What is oral health? What causes tooth decay? How do we prevent tooth decay?

A healthy mouth has healthy gums. Healthy gums are pink (not red) and do not easily bleed. Healthy teeth are NOT covered in plaque. (Plaque is a thin film of bacteria that covers the teeth. It is almost colorless and sticky and is constantly forming on teeth. The bacterial by-products of plaque can irritate the gums.)

A healthy mouth does not suffer gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums that can be caused by a build-up of plaque bacterial by-products. If you have gingivitis, your gums become red, swollen and easily bleed.

You want to avoid a condition called periodontitis, which occurs when the gums start to separate from the teeth – forming pockets of pus. If you have periodontitis, you can have bone loss, which in turn can cause your teeth to become loose and either fall out or need to be extracted.

Cavities are usually the first sign that something is wrong with your oral care regimen. Cavities are formed by acid which is produced when bacteria combines with the sugar in our food and drink.

OK, so we understand the importance of maintaining healthy teeth, right?

Here are the NON-ADA simple rules:

  • Keep your teeth and mouth clean – Brush your teeth twice a day (any toothpaste is fine as long as you don’t have any problems). Floss or use an irrigator every day. Use a tongue scraper, which helps reduce cavities by eliminating bacteria from your mouth and prevents bad breath.
  • See a dentist often and regularly
  • Maintain a healthy diet.

What foods are recommended for healthy teeth & gums?

You want to eat foods with the following properties:

  • Anti-Inflammatory (essential fatty acids, such as walnuts & salmon)
  • Antioxidant (CoQ10, organ meats, supplements)
  • Support cell metabolism (B Vitamins, which includes a variety of raw fruits & vegetables and whole grains)
  • Neutralize acid (xylitol, which is derived from beets, birch tree bark and corncobs)
  • Fortify teeth (calcium – from dairy, beans, nuts, or peas & phosphorous – from dairy, fish, nuts; Recaldent™, which is an ingredient derived from casein whose technical name is casein phosphopeptides-amorphous calcium phosphate, or CPP-ACP. It works to strengthen teeth by delivering calcium and phosphate in a unique soluble form to help remineralize the enamel).
  • Avoid sticky candies and dried fruits, hard candies and lozenges, high sugar sodas and regular consumption of sugared coffee or tea.
  • Drink lots of pure, clean water!!!!! Nourish yourself!!!

WHENEVER POSSIBLE, FOLLOW AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO DENTISTRY!

There are a few related topics that are very controversial. They are listed below for your consideration:

  • X-RAYS – While X-RAYS are necessary to see in between the teeth and facilitate early intervention, use them wisely and choose digital X-rays, which emit 90% less radiation, whenever possible. If the digital X-Rays are unavailable, please ask your dentist about the availability of additional shields (besides the common aprons) that they have available for your use (thyroid or scrotum shields).
  • ROOT CANALS – Root canals are needed when bacteria enters the tooth and infect the bone. The bacterial infection needs to be removed mechanically. However, sometimes, some infection remains which could cause problems elsewhere in the body later on.
  • DENTAL IMPLANTS – The Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of zirconia implants provides additional options for the use of implants.
  • FLUORIDE  – This is a very controversial topic. My personal opinion is that fluoride in our drinking water and in our oral care products causes more harm than provides benefits. Fluoride is a toxic industrial waste product. The fluoride that is added to the drinking water is not pharmaceutical grade (I have personally witnessed this). If you read the label on any fluoridated toothpaste, you will see a warning that you should call poison control if the toothpaste is ingested. Here’s a link to an interview that was conducted with Dr. Bill Osmunson, an experienced dentist with a Masters of Public Health in Nutrition. I trust his credentials and I believe what he has to say. You be the judge.
  • Mercury fillings – According to the FDA website, Dental amalgam contains elemental mercury. It releases low levels of mercury vapor that can be inhaled. High levels of mercury vapor exposure are associated with adverse effects in the brain and the kidneys. If you have mercury filings, please consult with an integrative dentist. I would not recommend removal of the mercury fillings until you have also consulted with a physician that has been trained in functional medicine, as the detoxification pathways should be clear before the mercury fillings are removed. Here’s a video of mercury vapors coming off a 25 year old silver amalgam filling.

As always, I urge you to do the research. Ask questions. Don’t settle for the status quo.

“How is it that mercury is not safe for food additives and Over the Counter drug products, but it is safe in our vaccines and dental amalgams?” – Congressman Dan Burton

Resources and links: 

“Integrative Dentistry” – a presentation made by Dara Kessler, DMD

http://www.westonaprice.org/dentistry/root-canal-dangers

http://www.westonaprice.org/dentistry/dental-implants-an-integrative-perspective

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/11/dr-bill-osmunson-on-fluoride.aspx

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DentalProducts/DentalAmalgam/ucm171094.htm

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-11-13/health/os-aha-meeting-2011-studies-20111113_1_heart-disease-sudden-cardiac-death-heart-attack

The Burton Report

 

 

New Year Resolutions & Realistic Goals

January 29, 2012
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New Year Resolutions & Realistic Goals

This article was published in the January, 2012 issue of the Richardson Times. I would like to share it with you.

It’s 2012. Can you believe it? Have you already made your New Year resolutions? I must confess that I have not made my New Years resolutions yet. This year, I have decided to be more realistic than in years past. Yes, that’s right. I give myself permission to be realistic and to use common sense in my approach. That doesn’t mean that I am throwing away all of my goals and aspirations for 2012. What it means is that I will not succumb to the pressure of setting unrealistic goals.

Lets’ take a look at the most popular New Year Resolutions for 2012. According to USA.gov the most popular New Year Resolutions are as follows:

  • Drink Less Alcohol
  • Eat Healthy Food
  • Get a Better Education
  • Get a Better Job
  • Get Fit
  • Lose Weight
  • Manage Debt
  • Manage Stress
  • Quit Smoking
  • Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
  • Save Money
  • Take a Trip
  • Volunteer to Help Others

But what is the underlying reason that we need to make these resolutions in the first place? Maybe we can understand it a bit better if we break it down into categories: There are two categories that clearly stand out: health and wealth. Ten out of thirteen listed resolutions fall into these two categories. Only three out of the thirteen listed resolutions revolve around quality-of-life related issues (vacation, the environment, and helping others).

What are your priorities? I believe that we can understand our priorities in life by analyzing how we spend our time. Therefore, I submit to you that it is possible for us to better understand our life by analyzing the roots of our goals and aspirations.

The above list clearly illustrates that our lives need healing. It is important to take this seriously. In fact, it is imperative that we begin the process of healing our lives completely. Health and wellness is not solely about food and exercise. In order to live healthy and meaningful lives, we must surround ourselves with people and things that bring us joy while we spend our time doing what we enjoy and contributing to others in our society.

At this start of 2012, you might consider asking yourself some powerful questions: Are you doing what you love to do? Do you spend your time and energy doing what is meaningful to you with people that you enjoy and love? Are you living your life in such a way that you bring happiness to those around you?

Having the courage to ask yourself those questions and to answer them honestly and objectively can be the catalysts that will help you transform your life into a life filled with excitement and purpose.

So, what is my next goal? My goal is to continue to take baby steps towards achieving a healthy lifestyle, so that I can better serve my community. Here is the plan:

  1. Feed my soul. I surround myself with friends and family, spirituality, music, art, and a satisfying career.
  2. Feed my body nourishing foods. I choose a plant-based diet, which is typically lower in fat and calories and higher in filling fiber than meat, dairy and processed foods, while providing needed essential nutrients.
  3. Drink water. Did you know that most people are chronically dehydrated? In fact, we often mistake thirst for hunger. A good trick is to drink a glass of water when you feel hungry between meals. You might be surprised that the craving for food goes away.
  4. Chew my food well. Did you know that the digestion process begins in the mouth? When you thoroughly chew your food, you slow down your eating and your body assimilates the nutrients better. You will feel satisfied on less food, because it takes 20 minutes for your brain to register that it is full.
  5. Eat real food. Avoid products that your grandmother would not recognize. Stay away from foods with high-fructose corn syrup or a long list of unpronounceable ingredients. If the food is highly processed, it will lack the nutrients your body needs. These “foods” are really empty calories.
  6. Eat breakfast. Every cell in your body needs energy. Breakfast is like fuel for your body. When you skip a meal, your blood sugar is affected, which affects your energy and mood.
  7. Eat mindfully. I will say a blessing over my food and be grateful. I will sit down for my meals and not eat in a rush. I will savor my food without distractions, and feel relaxed as I enjoy the flavors, aromas and textures of the food. I will slow down.
  8. Move my body. I will dance, walk, jump and stretch and not feel obligated to join a gym or walk on a treadmill. I will find pleasurable ways of moving my body and will do some type of physical activity every day. Because I enjoy it. And because it makes me feel good.
  9. Sleep, rest and relax without guilt. I was brought up in a family with an amazing work ethic. Of that, I am proud. However, I never learned to relax. It was always about studying hard or working hard. Being productive was how we measured our self-worth. I have since learned that when you are sleep-deprived or stressed, your body cannot function properly. Often, when a person is sleep deprived, they will crave energy, causing cravings for sugary snacks and caffeine as an energy boost.
  10. Schedule time for fun. I fill my time with laughter and play and will participate in activities that bring me joy.

There you have it. It’s common sense, simple, easy, doesn’t allow room for guilt, is empowering, and focuses on the positive in order to allow the positive to push out the negative. The process of healing your body empowers you to pursue other changes (like a new job, more money, education) because you are in a healthier frame of mind.

I invite you to make your own list of common sense steps towards a healthy and meaningful 2012. Consider following the 90% rule: do your very best for 90% of the time and allow yourself to indulge the other 10% of the time. This common sense guideline helps assuage any potential feeling of guilt, thereby reducing your stress level. It is a useful rule to follow when it comes to diet as well as for overall living. I also invite you to turn your focus outward by choosing resolutions that will help brighten the lives of others: volunteer, help someone in need, take care of our environment, and be kind to others. Perform a random act of kindness. As Winston Churchill once said: “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” Happy 2012.

Does Inflammation Have You Hot?

December 7, 2011
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Does Inflammation Have You Hot?

Inflammation, in its ideal form, is the body’s response to infection and injury. When it works properly, it’s a solution addressing pain and invading organisms. But when inflammation is systemic (throughout our body), low-level and persistent, we are neither healed nor protected. Long-term inflammation can be a factor in many illnesses including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, allergies, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s.


Inflammation is more common today because our bodies are out of balance. Our bodies produce chemicals called prostaglandins, using nutrients from the food we eat as a raw material. The major nutrients that our bodies use to create prostaglandins are fatty acids from our foods. These are the omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids produce an anti-inflammatory response in our bodies. Omega-6 fatty acids produce an inflammatory response.

Our bodies need an equal amount of each of these fatty acids to maintain a balanced inflammatory status. However, today’s “standard American diet” provides us with up to 20 times as much omega-6 fatty acid as omega-3 fatty acid.

What are the main sources of the inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids?

Sweets, starches (especially grains), and highly processed foods are the main culprits. We consume more cereal grains (and the oils produced from them) than ever before. In addition, the animals we eat are also consuming increasing quantities of these grains (primarily corn). Even fish are being corn-fed in farms that raise seafood to meet our growing demands!

How can I balance these inflammatory factors? Here are some simple suggestions to add anti-inflammatory choices into your daily routine:

  1. Exercise regularly
  2. Minimize stress
  3. Get a full night’s sleep
  4. Eat whole foods, especially organic
  5. Consider taking a high quality fish oil
  6. Cook with aromatic spices – garlic, ginger, cayenne, turmeric are anti-inflammatory
  7. Add avocado, kale, spinach, anchovies, wild Atlantic or sockeye salmon, Brazil nuts, and other anti-inflammatory foods

Mindful choices that add in more omega-3 fatty acids or develop relaxing behavior is the place to start! Making anti-inflammatory choices doesn’t have to feel like deprivation. Remember, everything is a balance.

An Affirmation of Abundance and Gratitude

December 7, 2011

An Affirmation of Abundance and Gratitude

During this time of thanksgiving, I share with you the following affirmation which was written by Louise Hay. May you be blessed with abundance as you reflect upon your blessings.

“Deep at the centre of my being there is an infinite well of love.

I now allow this love to flow to the surface.

It fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness, my very being, and radiates out from me in all directions and returns to me multiplied.

The more love I use and give, the more I have to give, the supply is endless.

The use of love makes me feel good; it is an expression of my inner joy.

Yes, I love myself, therefore I take loving care of my body.

I lovingly feed it nourishing food and beverages.

I lovingly groom it and dress it and my body lovingly responds to me with vibrant health and energy.

I love myself, therefore I provide for myself a comfortable home, one that fills all my needs and is a pleasure to be in.

I fill the rooms with the vibration of love so that all who enter, myself included, will feel this love and be nourished by it.

I love myself, therefore I work at a job that I truly enjoy doing, one that uses all my talents and abilities, working with and for people that I love and love me, and earning a good income.

I love myself, therefore, I behave in a loving way to all people for I know that that which I give out returns to me multiplied.

I only attract loving people in my world for they are a mirror of what I am.

I love myself, therefore I forgive and totally release the past and all past experiences and I am free.

I love myself, therefore I love totally in the now, experiencing each moment as good and knowing that my future is bright, and joyous and secure, for I am a beloved child of the universe and the universe lovingly takes care of me now and forever more.

And so it is.” -Louise Hay

Seasonal changes and your mood

November 5, 2011

Seasonal changes and your mood

(This article appeared in the October 2011 issue of A Healthy You and was prepared as part of a collaborative effort with other IIN Health Coaches).)

Seasonal changes have a distinct effect on your moods, your physical activity and what you eat. If you live in more northern latitudes, which includes most of the US, you probably experience some sort of changes in your body with the changes of the seasons.

Most people don’t pay attention to these changes or understand that they are happening. For example, do you feel tired or just want to stay home and “nest” in the winter? Do you dream of sitting on the beach just to soak up the sun’s rays? Do you crave warm foods such as casseroles, stews or soups; or even sweets or chocolates during the winter months?

Fighting depression in the winter is extremely common, even for people who would never classify themselves as depressed. Our body clocks are geared with the rise and fall of the sun and the position of the sun in the sky. If you live anywhere above 35 degrees north latitude you most likely aren’t getting enough sun or vitamin D in the winter. This has a measured effect on one’s mood and overall health.

Many people turn to pharmaceuticals and specifically anti-depressants to fix the problem. These don’t work, except for extreme circumstances. Foods affect your mood, some positively, some negatively. Some foods that should be included in the winter months are the most prevalent.

  1. Dark Leafy Vegetables – pack with nutrients including Folic Acid, and B vitamins. They are known to help eliminate depression.
  2. Winter squash – high in carotene, as well as a good source of Vitamin C, B1, folic acid, potassium and dietary fiber.
  3. Cold water fish or fish oil – contains Omega-3 fatty acids. Essential fatty acids (EFA) are called essential for a reason; our body doesn’t produce them so we must get them from food sources.
  4. Whole grains – High in B Vitamins which positively affect mood and are digested slower than refined grains.

Some things to avoid:

Pharmaceutical drugs – Many classes of pharmaceutical drugs cause depression, including anti-depressants.

Sugars and simple carbohydrates – When craving sugar, first drink water; your body may be signaling that it is thirsty. Substitute dark chocolate for whatever sugary foods you crave, not the whole chocolate bar, just a few bites. Simple carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels so the body is ready to expel a good quantity of energy. When not used, the body crashes and often leaves us feeling low and depressed. Substitute whole grains for refined grains; the closer the grain is to its original form when plucked from nature the better it is for you. Refined grains have had the nutrition stripped away.

Soft drinks (including “diet” soft drinks, juice-waters and fortified waters) – Drink real water. We don’t need to improve on the perfect fluid nature gave us for our bodies. All of these have some from of sugar or chemical based sugar substitute; all of which can lead to long term disease. Instead of juice drinks; eat the real fruit. The fibre in fruit helps to slowly metabolize the natural sugars in the fruit.

Our bodies crave water and when the months are colder sometimes we forget or feel we don’t need to consume water regularly. Experiment a little; write down what you crave and the mood attached to that craving and see how that changes with the seasons. You may be surprised at what you’ve recorded and that can be a basis for changing what you eat/drink to satisfy those cravings. Good luck!

Deconstructing Cravings

October 17, 2011

Deconstructing Cravings

(This article was previously published in the September edition of A Healthy You).

The body is an amazing source of intelligence. It is always there for you, pumping blood, never skipping a heartbeat, digesting whatever food you put in it. It’s an amazing body – always striving to maintain perfect balance.

Is this reliable, intelligent bio- computer making a mistake by craving ice cream or a hamburger or chocolate?

Are cravings due to lack of will- power or discipline?

I’d like to suggest that cravings are not a problem. They are critical pieces of information that tell you what your body needs.

The important thing is to understand why you crave what you crave. Perhaps your diet is too restrictive or devoid of essential nutrients. Perhaps you are living a lifestyle that is too boring or stressful. Your body tries to correct the imbalance by sending you a message: a craving.

A craving for something sweet could mean you need more protein, more exercise, more water or more love in your life. Sometimes, you might just need a hug! The key to stopping the sugar craving is to understand and deliver what your body really needs.

No book or theory can tell you what to eat. Only awareness of your body and its needs can tell you. Of all the relationships in our lives, the one with our body is the most essential. It takes communication, love and time to cultivate a relationship with your body. As you learn to decipher and respond to your body’s cravings, you will create a deep and lasting level of health and balance.

The next time you have a craving, treat it as a loving message from your body instead of a weakness. Try these tips to respond to your body:

  • Have a glass of water and wait 10 minutes.
  • Eat a healthier version of what you crave. For example, if you crave sweets, try eating more fruit and sweet or root vegetables.
  • Reflect on what may be out of balance in your life. Is there something you need to express, or is something being repressed? What happened in your life just before you had this craving?
  • When you eat the food you are craving, enjoy it, taste it, savor it; notice its effect. Then you will become more aware and free to decide if you really want it next time.

Relaxation and Exercise

September 1, 2011

Relaxation and Exercise

Summer is often a time for serious play, time off and deep relaxation. Many of us use the summertime to rebuild our reserves for the rest of the busy year. In our work-crazed society we can lose sight of the benefits of slowing down and taking time to rest. Now that summer is in full swing, it’s time to enjoy the restorative powers of reconnecting to your body through movement and relaxation.

The body loves to move. Even though our body is healthiest when it is getting appropriate physical activity, we often feel dread and boredom when we hear the word “exercise”. Think for a moment of what type of movement you would consider fun as opposed to torturous. Perhaps you loathe the idea of a gym, but miss taking dance classes. Maybe you secretly want to try yoga or rollerblading. You could play touch football with your kids, walk with a neighbor in the mornings or go for a swim. The summer offers so many choices – it’s simply up to you to choose which style of movement excites you. Your heart will thank you, your soul will be gratified, your limbs will be more fluid and you’ll sleep better at night.

Summer is a unique time of year when we can do both our relaxation and our movement out in nature. Take a nap in a hammock and enjoy the smell of freshly cut grass. Go to the park and meditate or read under a favorite tree. One of the greatest places to rest in the summertime is by the water. There is something magical and restorative in water, and we naturally crave to be near it, by it or in it. Heading to the water, whether it is the beach, a lake or a kiddy pool, can be relaxing and rejuvenating.

Whether you are relaxing, exercising or both, notice that being outside in nature has a profound way of quieting the mind and reconnecting us to ourselves. Often this relaxation and peace of mind are what our bodies crave the most. So while summer is with us, strap on your sandals and enjoy the rich elements of sun, wind and water and the nourishment that they bring.

First Line Therapy

August 9, 2011

First Line Therapy

I recently returned from the First Line Therapy certification workshop in Denver, Co. What an intense and wonderful experience! The training provided by the Metagenics team was impressive. We received training from Lyra Heller, Chris Katke, Dr. Kenneth Browning,DO, Dr. Kristi Hughes,ND, and Michael Alosso.

Here are some of the things I learned:

  1. The National Institute of Health Guidelines recommend that prior to the start of a cholesterol reducing drug therapy program, patients be provided with 12 weeks of Therapeutic Lifestyle Change education by the physician, a health coach, a nutritionist, or other lifestyle educator. Unfortunately, this does NOT appear to be the way most physicians follow the guidelines. As I wrote in Why it’s Important to Question Your Doctor,  this was certainly NOT how my husband’s endocrinologist handled his case.
  2. I worked side by side with doctors on specific case studies. This gave me, as a Health Coach and a Lifestyle Educator, experience with how a doctor approaches a patient in regards to their nutritional needs. I found out that most doctors only have one course on nutrition while in medical school. ONLY ONE COURSE! How are they expected to guide us in our goal of achieving great health? It’s no wonder that most will prescribe medication as opposed to prescribing a therapeutic lifestyle change.
  3. I learned the importance of body composition as opposed to weight-loss. Many times I cringe when I see weight loss challenges in corporations, on TV, etc… I have always been concerned with quick weight loss schemes. I, too, have had a life filled with weight challenges. When the person gets off the scale, do they know how much fat they lost? Or how much muscle they lost? Or how much of the weight loss was water?
  4. I receive training on an amazing process that focuses on common sense, balance, nutrition, & body composition which is backed up by clinical research and scientific data.

Most of all, I received an incredible confirmation that the work I do is IMPORTANT and NECESSARY, if we, as a Nation, are to get back on track with our health.

My next step is to pass the First Line Therapy Certification exam with flying colors. Once I have done so, I plan to work in partnership with my client’s physicians, to provide health coaching as a Certified Lifestyle Educator. I focus on NOURISHMENT of body, mind & spirit.

I am so EXCITED about my work!!!! I am a Health Coach and a Lifestyle Educator. I am helping to change the world one client at a time!!!

 

 

Why Weight? Diets Don’t Work

August 1, 2011

Why Weight? Diets Don’t Work

(This article appeared in the May, 2011 issue of A Healthy You)

You can’t turn on the TV, drive down the road or go to a party without being confronted with America’s hottest obsession: weight. Diets are a billion-dollar industry; companies spend millions and millions luring you to try the latest diet (low carb, high protein, low fat, no fat, you name it) with promises that this will (finally!) be the solution-your shortcut to a thinner body.

Advertising efforts also deeply affect our children, who develop distorted body images and are often on diets as early as nine or 10 years of age.

Our culture touts diet pills, celebrity workouts, convenience foods and trendy diets to help us achieve our desired weight, but these quick-fix solutions have backfired. America’s populace has reached its highest weight in history.

About half of Americans are overweight; one-third are obese. Diets steer us away from our common sense and dip deeply into our pocketbooks while eliciting few, if any, lasting results. Why?

“Getting my weight under control has come from a process of treating myself as well as I treat others in every way.”-Oprah Winfrey

Diets don’t work because each person is unique, with different needs based on gender, age, ancestry and lifestyle; how could one diet be right for everyone?
Diets don’t work because they are extreme solutions. As in physics, if a pendulum swings to one extreme, it has to swing equally to the other. A diet might work for a short amount of time, but research shows that almost all diets result in a 10-pound gain once off the diet.
Diets don’t work because they are too restrictive. People who fail on diet plans are not flawed or weak. Diets by nature require discipline and restriction at levels that are unsustainable by a healthy human body.
Most people are disconnected from why they gain weight and see diet as the only culprit. For example, ignoring or discounting emotions is often the first thing to cause weight imbalances.

In our fast-paced world, we have lost sight of many aspects of life that truly nourish and balance our bodies, such as slowing down, eating a home-cooked meal and spending quality time with loving people. Eating consciously and making simple lifestyle changes will create positive results and release you from the endless cycle of dieting.

Given half a chance, your body will balance out by itself, but this is only possible by getting out of the diet mentality and listening to what you truly need. Imagine taking all of the outward energy you expend on diets, fads and gimmicks and turning it inward, so that you can listen to your heart and inner wisdom. There is no such thing as a quick fix; you already have everything you need within you. With careful thought and loving reflection, you can feed yourself in a nourishing way. Working with your body rather than against it will bring you increased energy, stabilized weight and sustainable health.

Try Something New

August 1, 2011

Try Something New

(This article appeared in the July, 2011 edition of A Healthy You)

Summer is finally in full force, and the living is easy! Do you notice in summertime how everything seems promising? The plants are in full bloom and the sun feels glorious on your skin. The longer days give you boundless energy, making you feel like it’s possible to achieve all your desires and dreams. Why not harness this energy, ride the wave of summer and try something new?

Throughout the year we live at an intense pace (physical, emotional and mental), and we often get stuck in routine, either for the sake of efficiency or out of fear of unfamiliar territory. The lack of variety in doing the same things over and over stagnates not only our minds, but also our bodies and hearts. Are you hesitant to break your routine? Fear and excitement have the same physiological expression in our bodies; it is our mind that classifies the feeling as either positive or negative. So the next time you consider a change in routine and your mind says “scary!” see if you can re-frame it as “exciting!”

What is something you have never done before or that you have wanted to do for a long time? Choose your own adventure: organize a kayak trip, take a dance class, do some exotic traveling or set a goal for a new personal challenge. Or try something simple, like playing flashlight tag with your kids and neighbors or reading in the sunshine. Maybe it’s time to discover a new vegetable dish or to visit a new town, restaurant or beach.

Whatever adventure calls to you, use this summer to make it happen and enjoy your life. Increasing new experiences and excitement in your life can decrease your dependence on artificial stimulants like caffeine and sugar, leading to more vibrant health. Watch out for massive improvements in physical well-being, mental acuity and motivation, plus a full portfolio of fun.

Diabetes rates are soaring – How can we stop it?

June 30, 2011

Diabetes rates are soaring – How can we stop it?

This topic is near and dear to my heart. I am re-posting this blogpost, which was posted on June 29, 2011 by the Instituted for Integrative Nutrition (my nutrition school), in hopes that this information will be distributed to many of our loved ones who have diabetes. Please forward this blogpost to your friends and followers. Thank you.

More than 350 million people worldwide now have diabetes. That’s greater than the entire population of the United States (307 million), and more than double the number of diabetes cases in 1980. These frightening statistics fromThe Guardian will only get worse if we do not make dramatic changes to the our accustomed lifestyles.

By 2020, the UnitedHealth Group anticipates that 50% of Americans could have diabetes or prediabetes.

 

As much as 95% of these cases are predicted to be Type 2 adult-onset diabetes, a condition highly correlated to obesity, poor diet, and lack of physical activity. In some cases, the condition can lead to kidney failure, heart attack, or stroke.

To reverse this trend, we’ve got to start at the source: the Standard American Diet and lifestyle that is now proliferating through all the nations of the world

people on bikes

Non-smoking adults at a normal weight who eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise have been proven to be 89% less likely to develop diabetes. That’s a very encouraging prevention statistic!

What about those already diagnosed with diabetes? Just earlier this month, researchers had a breakthrough in diabetes care. As reported by the BBC, eleven people who had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes underwent a drastic eight-week diet regimen of 600 calories a day. At the end of the study, 7 of the 11 participants no longer had diabetes.

The researchers anticipate that by combining a healthy diet with regular exercise, these former diabetics may be able to live diabetes-free the rest of their lives. This is great news for those 350 million already coping with diabetes.

In a 2009 documentary, Simply Raw, six diabetics switched to a raw food diet for 30 days and found their “incurable” disease wasn’t so permanent after all.

The prevention and the cure are based on the same principle – live healthfully. We can start reducing the number of people affected by diabetes as soon as we can embrace the lifestyle we all know we should: eat right and exercise.

What advice do you have for someone battling diabetes?

Snack Attack

June 29, 2011

Snack Attack

(This article was featured in the June, 2011 edition of A Healthy You)

There’s no denying that everyone, at one time or another, has had a snack attack. Views on snacking differ. Some feel that snacking is bad and that eating between meals leads to weight gain. Others believe that eating many small meals and snacks throughout the day is healthy for maintaining energy levels and optimal weight. If there were one way of snacking that was right for everyone, we would all be doing it!

To alleviate snack attack guilt, try to understand why you are snacking and what snacks work best for your body. Perhaps you snack because your daily diet is missing nutrition, or because you are eating too little at meals. You might be snacking to soothe jangled nerves when you are emotional, or to entertain yourself when you are bored.

Whatever your reason, acknowledge it and start thinking about how to create a life that is nourishing and truly satisfying.

Although snacks are no substitute for loving your life, they can be great energy boosters. Many convenient snack foods are highly processed and full of chemicals, additives, damaging fats and refined sugars. When a snack attack hits you, try foods that are filling and satisfying, but also nutritious. Here are some tips:

  • Snack on things that don’t come in a plastic wrapper or a box, like fresh fruit, leftover vegetables or rice cakes with almond butter and fruit spread.
  • Make your own signature trail mix, organic hot chocolate made with almond milk sweetened with agave nectar, or blue corn chips with hummus.

You can also try “upgrading”:

  • If you are craving something crunchy, upgrade from potato chips to raw carrots, apples or whole grain crackers.
  • If you are craving a candy bar, upgrade to a handful of nuts and dried fruit. Instead of a cup of coffee, upgrade to green tea. Instead of ice cream, upgrade to applesauce with cinnamon.

Upgraded snacks are high in nutrition and give you a greater sense of satiety and satisfaction; you won’t feel physically or psychologically deprived, and you’ll have plenty of energy to sustain your activities for hours.

Snacking is enjoyable and there is a wide variety of healthful goodies for whatever you’re craving, be it sweet, crunchy, salty, creamy or spicy. Dive in, be creative and enjoy your snack attack.

Spring Cleaning

April 27, 2011

Spring Cleaning

People like “stuff”. We tend to hold onto it year after year. We save and stock up on things that we don’t know what to do with anymore. Maybe we keep things because they hold precious memories of days gone by, or they remind us of our parents, grandparents, past loves or childhood. To part with these precious possessions seems out of the question. There is a saying that goes, “You have to get rid of the old to make way for the new.” If you are feeling stuck or stagnant in your life, try spring-cleaning. Throw out some of that stuff, say goodbye to your past and welcome the new energy of your happy, healthy future.

Try these three ideas:

For good mental and physical health, we actually have two “houses” that need to be spring-cleaned: our physical homes and our physical bodies. Just as we accumulate “stuff” in the form of outgrown clothes, magazines, rusty bicycles, tools and random keepsakes, so do our bodies accumulate old food residues and toxins that need to be cleaned out.

To spring clean your body, give it a break from rich and complicated foods by either cleansing or fasting for a short period of time. Cleansing means paring down your food to just simple fruits and vegetables, lots of water and perhaps whole grains. Fasting means limiting most foods and drinking lots of water, fresh vegetable and fruit juices, teas and soups. Without much energy going toward digestion, more energy is available to the rest of your body and mind. Cleansing and fasting can sharpen your concentration, help you gain insight and promote spiritual awareness. It can also bring improved immune function and better digestion.

While you’re cleaning out your body and home, don’t forget to spring-clean your heart. Throw away negative thoughts and habits you’ve been harboring that no longer serve you. A clean, open heart will allow you to receive all the good that awaits you each and every day. If your heart and mind are cluttered, there is no room for life’s gifts and surprises to enter.

What Are Your Most Important Accomplishments?

March 31, 2011

What Are Your Most Important Accomplishments?

 

I was asked this question as part of a grant application submittal. It didn’t take me long to write my response.

Here its is, unedited:

My biggest accomplishments are raising my three sons as a single-mother in a manner that has allowed them to become healthy and productive members of society while becoming a regionally respected public works director as a woman engineer in a male-dominated field.

My loving husband and boys (plus 3 out of 4 family doggies)

As a woman, I celebrate the accomplishment of walking away from an abusive marriage in order to provide my children and myself a healthy and happy home.

As an engineer I celebrate many accomplishments, including safeguarding the environment and introducing the concept of sustainable projects and developments to the City of Cedar Hill, Texas and participating in the region’s dialogue on water resources, stormwater pollution prevention and air quality/transportation initiatives.

The steps that I took were as follows:

1. Education – I studied hard and continue to study as a daily practice.
2. Acceptance that I am not responsible for someone else’s happiness. I am only responsible for my own happiness.
3. Understanding that I cannot control what anyone else does. I can only control how I respond to whatever is thrown my way.
4. Hard Work
5. Love – I approach my life with love towards all.
6. Discernment – I have learned that discernment is the most powerful tool we possess. I have learned to trust my gut.
7. I walk away from that which is unhealthy for myself and for my family.

The above steps guided my path from being a frightened wife and mother to being a strong, independent woman. They allowed me the permission to explore love and intimacy again and to marry a wonderful, happy man. They allowed me the security in knowing that I am safe as I walked away from a six-figure income in order to follow my passion of becoming a health coach and an advocate for healthy communities.

Speaking of healthy communities, stay tuned as I keep you informed of my latest venture!!!!!!

 

Is the CDC looking out for us?

March 15, 2011

Is the CDC looking out for us?

Our country is in the midst of a huge health crisis.

According to the CDC’s recently released Annual Report on the Nation’s Health, the U.S. spends over $2 trillion a year on healthcare. In fact, according to the report, “The United States spends a larger share of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health than does any other major industrialized country.”

Even though our country spends more than $2 trillion a year on healthcare,  chronic diseases are the epidemic of our generation and food-related diseases are the No. 1 cause of preventable death. The following health risk factors are analyzed in the study:

  • Cigarette Smoking
  • Participation in Leisure-time Aerobic and Muscle-strengthening Activities
  • Obesity Among Children
  • Overweight and Obesity Among Adults
  • Hypertension Prevalence
  • High Serum Total Cholesterol (240 mg/dL or Higher)

All of the above are lifestyle related and there is NO DISCUSSION in the report regarding prevention by lifestyle modification!

Our healthcare system relies on medications and surgeries as opposed instead of focusing on prevention and education. In fact, if you take the time to review the report, you will see that under the section entitled “Prevention”, there are only two sections: “Statin Drug Use” and “Influenza Vaccination”.

Our good health begins with us. We are responsible. Good health begins with daily diet and lifestyle choices. Look at your own life and ask, is there one thing you could change now that would make a difference for your health?

A Health Coach Today Keeps the Doctor Away

March 12, 2011

A Health Coach Today Keeps the Doctor Away

The following article was originally posted at MY Nutrition School, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition

In the last century modern medicine has made incredible breakthroughs in the treatments of some of our worst diseases. So why are Americans still very sick?

According to American Diabetes Association in 2011, 8.3% of the population has diabetes. That means 25.8 million people in the United States suffer from a largely preventable disease. And they are not alone. High blood pressure, asthma, and other diseases are also preventable and highly treatable.

Why, then, are doctors stuck in a tug-o-war with their patients’ diseases? A recent New York Times article laments the fact that the evidence based practices that many doctors use do not translate well into patients’ day-to-day lives. Part of the disconnect is that evidence based medicine treats the disease, but not the whole person. Some patients do not listen to their doctor’s advice out of stubbornness, but most people simply need more guidance than a list of dos and don’ts.

Evidence based practices treat human beings like a science experiment. However, there is another very important side of the healing process: the human element. It’s hard to make and maintain meaningful changes in diet and lifestyle while the rest of the world continues on unchanged.

Enter Health Coaches. A Health Coach can, show you how to cook, take you grocery shopping and help support you in finding a healthy lifestyle and strategy that works for YOU. Health Coaches do not teach a one-size-fits-all program, they cater to what your goals are and what your body needs.

Many diseases can be partially treated, or have symptoms eased, through diet and exercise. People need to know that they don’t have to choose between being sick and eating cardboard-like diet foods. A Health Coach can demonstrate how to prepare delicious meals that will lead to wellness and healing.

We desperately need our doctors and Health Coaches to help heal and prevent disease to ease the pressure on our overburdened health care system. More importantly, it will make us a happier, healthier society.

Go Ahead – Take a Bite!

March 6, 2011

Go Ahead – Take a Bite!

(This article appeared in the March, 2011 issue of A Healthy You.)

When it comes to increased health, it’s not just what we eat but how we eat. Digestion actually begins in the mouth, where contact with our teeth and digestive enzymes in our saliva break down food. But these days most of us rush through the whole eating experience, barely acknowledging what we’re putting in our mouths.

We eat while distracted (working, reading, talking & watching television) and swallow our food practically whole. On average we chew each bite only eight times. It’s no wonder that many adults have digestive problems.

It’s a pleasure to watch a child eat his favorite food. He savors every bite! His only focus at the moment is to eat. We can all learn from our children. Slow down! Enjoy every morsel! There are many great reasons to slow down and chew your food:

  • Saliva breaks down food into simple sugars, creating a sweet taste. The more we chew, the sweeter our food becomes, so we don’t crave those after-meal sweets.
  • Chewing reduces digestive distress and improves assimilation, allowing our bodies to absorb maximum nutrition from each bite of food.
  • More chewing produces more endorphins, the brain chemicals responsible for creating good feelings.
  • It’s also helpful for weight loss, because when we are chewing well, we are more apt to notice when we are full.
  • In fact, chewing can promote increased circulation, enhanced immunity, increased energy and endurance, as well as improve skin health and stabilize weight.
  • Taking time with a meal, beginning with chewing, allows for enjoyment of the whole experience of eating: the smells, flavors and textures. It helps us to give thanks, to show appreciation for the abundance in our lives and to develop patience and self-control.

The power of chewing is so great that there are stories of concentration camp survivors who, when others could not, made it through with very little food by chewing their meager rations up to 300 times per bite of food. For most of us 300 chews is a daunting and unrealistic goal. However, you can experience the benefits of chewing by increasing to 30 chews per bite. Try it and see how you feel. Try eating without the TV, computer, Blackberry, newspaper or noisy company. Instead just pay attention to the food and to how you are breathing and chewing. This kind of quiet can be disconcerting at first, since we are used to a steady stream of advertising, news, media, email and demands from others. But as you create a new habit, you will begin to appreciate eating without rushing. You have to eat every day – why not learn to savor and enjoy it?

It’s About Life

February 23, 2011

It’s About Life

This post is dedicated to a wonderful young man named Kashief  Cross, who was taken from this world much too soon. Kashief and his friend Eric died as a result of a tragic accident which occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 13th. The cause of the accident has not been determined. Kashief, you were an inspiration to those of us who knew you and were blessed to have you in our lives. You are dearly loved.

We all do it. We get so busy with living that we forget to stop when we get tired to allow our bodies time to rest. We try to fill every moment with activity. In my case, my husband tells me that I always cram too much into my day. Maybe so. I do seem to want to do everything at once!!!! It’s often difficult to put an activity off till later.

Please. Let’s make a commitment to ourselves. Let’s make a commitment to our loved ones. When we are tired we need to stop and rest.

Did you know that:

  • sleep deprivation increases the risk for diabetes and heart attacks
  • there is an increase in obesity due to lack of sleep
  • lack of sleep increases the risk for breast cancer and hypertension

Our children are inheriting our bad habits. Teenagers, who need between 9-9.5 hours of sleep per night, often have a difficult time getting enough rest. Sometimes our kids are so busy with sports and other extra-curricular activities and they still wake up at the crack of dawn.Teenagers and young adults also often have difficulty falling asleep at night. They experience changes in their sleep patterns as a result of the changes which are occurring in their growing bodies.

My experience has shown that when teenagers get adequate sleep, their behavior improves dramatically. They are less anxious and moody and they perform better at school and sports.  Every parent worries about their kid’s driving performance. How many young people do you know that have been killed or severely injured in a car accident which could have been avoided?

According to the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), “The vast majority of these crashes are attributable to a combination of driver inexperience, coupled with one or more of the five major risks facing teen drivers (driving at night, distractions such as cell phones and other young passengers, speeding, not using seat belts, and drinking and driving).” Approximately 20% of road deaths are believed to be caused by sleep deprivation and approximately half of these deaths are of kids between 16 and 25.

In Texas, there is a wonderful program available for teens called Teens in the Driver Seat. Since the program’s inception, “the teen driver fatal crash rate has dropped faster and more steadily in Texas than in any other state.” If you have a teenager at home, please encourage him/her to participate in this program. It’s a wonderful peer-to-peer program that is 100% managed by the teens themselves. I will make myself available to help any teenager who wants to get this program started by helping them connect with the wonderful folks at TTI.

It’s about Life. Please stop and think. If you’re tired, REST.

Sources for this story:

http://www.naturalnews.com/024490_sleep_teenagers_deprivation.html

http://tti.tamu.edu/group/cts/groups/teens-in-the-driver-seat/

Food Feeds the Soul

February 8, 2011

Food Feeds the Soul

Food has the power to impact us on a level deeper than just our physical well-being. What we eat can reconnect us to precious memories, like childhood playtimes, first dates, holidays, life cycle events, our grandmother’s cooking or our country of ancestry. Our bodies remember foods from the past on an emotional and cellular level. Eating this food connects us to our roots and has grounding and nurturing effects that go far beyond the food’s biochemical make-up.

Think for a moment of a food from your past, one that makes you feel great after you eat it for no specific reason. Maybe it is macaroni and cheese, slow-simmered tomato sauce, ice cream cones or potato pancakes. Eating comfort foods (every now and then) can be incredibly healing, even though your rational brain might not consider it highly nutritious.

Acknowledging what different foods mean to us is an important part of cultivating a good relationship with food. This month when we celebrate lovers and relationships, it’s important to notice that we each have a relationship with food – and that this relationship is often far from loving. Many of us restrict food, attempting to control our weight. We often abuse food, substituting it for emotional well-being. Others ignore food, swallowing it whole before we’ve even tasted it.

What would your life be like if you treated food and your body as you would treat your beloved – with gentleness, playfulness, communication, honesty, respect and love? The next time you eat your soul food, do so with awareness and without guilt, and enjoy all the healing and nourishment it brings you.

Prescription Drugs – at what cost?

February 1, 2011

Prescription Drugs – at what cost?

When someone begins to take a statin drug, he/she will probably take the medication for LIFE. Imagine the economic implications associated with this – for both the patient and the pharmaceutical companies. I’ll give you a personal example:

My husband’s endocrinologist has been trying to persuade him to take a statin drug for years (see previous post). In lieu of a statin, we walked out of his office with a prescription for Niaspan (extended-release niacin tablets).

Before we left his office, the doctor kindly gave us a few samples and an expired offer from Abbott Laboratories containing a card that allows us to obtain the drug for $5/month (certain conditions apply, i.e., if my husband registers to an educational program that supplies him with their product literature). The doctor suggested that we call Abbot laboratories and ask them if they would honor the offer, so we called the company. They agreed to send us a new card in a few weeks. In the meantime, we took the prescription to the pharmacy and were astounded when our co-payment (after insurance) was $70.01. We inquired as to the retail price of the drug and were told that the retail price was $75.99.

As it happens, consumers now may not be able to shop around for the best prices for medications because the pharmacist doesn’t have any idea what the co-payment amount is until AFTER they have filed the claim with the insurance company. By that time, the prescription has been filled. To provide you with a cost comparison, a pharmaceutical grade, non-prescription, sustained release Niacin retails for approximately $11. I know there is a difference between extended release and sustained release, but it shouldn’t be so much that the cost would increase sevenfold.This is for a vitamin, for goodness’ sake!

I called our insurance company to find out about the co-payment amount and was told that the actual co-payment for the prescription is really ONLY $50, but since we had not yet met our yearly deductible amount, our cost was $70.01. As a consumer, I would have no clear way of understanding this without spending a lot of time on the phone with the insurance company, since there is no itemized statement provided with a breakdown of the costs.

What is the real cost of the drug? Why is Abbott laboratories so eager to give the drug to new patients for the first year at $5/month? Who subsidizes the $5/month offer to new patients? How can consumers be better represented in this process?

Niaspan, at a retail cost of $75.99/month, easily earns the drug manufacturer approximately $900/year per patient. This medication (which is a VITAMIN) is being prescribed to thousands of patients, who will probably have to take the drug for many years (or for life).

So who really wins?

My guess is that the real winner here is the Pharmaceutical Company.

What’s your guess?

Cholesterol – what is “bad”? what is “good”?

January 28, 2011

Cholesterol – what is “bad”? what is “good”?

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fatty substance that resembles wax. It is made by the liver and found in every cell in the body.

Do we need cholesterol? Cholesterol is important. Without cholesterol, our bodies would not be able to function. For example, cholesterol is needed by the body’s cells to maintain a healthy wall structure; it produces bile, which is crucial in the digestion process; it produces hormones, which guide and control organ function; and it produces Vitamin D, which is necessary for healthy bones and a strong immune system.

What is the total cholesterol count? The total cholesterol count is the sum of LDL, HDL, TriGlycerides and Lp(a) cholesterol in your blood:

  • LDL & HDL – Since cholesterol is not dissolved in the blood, it is carried to the various cells by lipo-proteins. There are two kinds of lipo-proteins: low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL). The LDL cholesterol is the “bad” cholesterol and the HDL cholesterol is the “good”cholesterol. If there is too much LDL in the blood, the lipids, along with other substances in the blood, can slowly build up along the inner surface of the arteries leading to the heart and brain.
  • Triglycerides – Triglycerides are fats made by the body. High levels of Triglycerides are usually found in people who are overweight, have high blood pressure or diabetes, live a sedentary life, smoke, drink or eat a diet that is high in refined carbohydrates. According to the American Heart Association, “Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body.”
  • Lp(a) cholesterol – Lp(a) is short for Lipo-protein (a), which is a low-density lipo-protein that is usually an inherited factor but may be found in people with kidney disease.

What are the target levels for HDL cholesterol?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the MINIMUM target for HDL cholesterol is 60mg/dl (milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood).

What increases HDL levels?

  • increased physical activity
  • weight loss
  • healthy fats, whole grains, nuts
  • Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish, fish oil supplements, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil)

References:

www.amearicanheart.org

http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/lowercholesterol/LC_whatis.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hdl-cholesterol/CL00030

Why it’s important to question your doctor

January 25, 2011

Why it’s important to question your doctor

Over the past several years, my husband has been under the care of an endocrinologist for the treatment of diabetes. My husband’s overall cholesterol level is good, but his LDL/HDL ratio is not, so at almost every visit, the Dr. has tried to sway him to utilize a statin medication.

What is a statin?
Statins are usually used to lower cholesterol.They work by blocking the body’s ability to produce cholesterol and by helping your body reabsorb plaque that has built up on the artery walls, hopefully preventing additional blockage in the artery and thus preventing heart attacks. However, the use of statins does not come without side effects, which may include depression, muscle pain and weakness, neuropathy, heart failure, dizziness, cognitive impairment, cancer, pancreatitis and liver damage). According to the National Health Alliance, “a recent study shows that the statin drug simvastatin, which the government is advocating we take to lower cholesterol levels, actually weakens our immune system and makes it difficult to fight off bacterial infections.” and that high cholesterol actually protects us against infection!

Now, getting back to my story:

At our first visit, we questioned the Dr. at length about the source of the clinical studies on which he based his recommendation, we felt that the potential risks involved by far outweighed the KNOWN benefits of the drug for a man his age. At almost every visit, my husband listened to the recommendation for a statin drug, but walked away without taking the Rx. A few months ago, my husband was seen by a Nurse Practitioner (NP) instead of by the Doctor. The NP was very patient in answering all of our questions. We asked her about the use of Red Yeast Rice or Niacin in lieu of a statin. She said that she has seen positive results from both and suggested that he try the Red Yeast Rice first and if that did not help, that he try the Niacin.

Last month, the Dr. was still recommending the use of a statin medication. We asked him if it would not be wise for my husband to try Niacin instead, as we had previously discussed with the NP, and he looked at the latest lab results before answering. I must say that I was quite surprised at his response:

He said that he usually prescribes statins to his diabetic patients because it is believed that the statins reduce the risk of coronary disease. However, in my husband’s case, the statins wouldn’t work. In fact, Niacin would be a better option.

He further explained that the reason he recommends niacin instead of a statin is because, in his case the bad cholesterol is fine but the good cholesterol is low. So why did he not recommend niacin earlier?

What if we had never asked?

By the way, when someone begins to take a statin, he/she will probably take the medication for LIFE. Imagine the economic implications associated with this – for both the patient and the pharmaceutical companies. More about this later…

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statins/CL00010
http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-diseases/cardiovascular-disease/581-dangers-of-statin-drugs.html
http://www.anh-usa.org/statin-drugs-open-us-up-to-foodborne-illnesses/

*Note – My husband has graciously given me permission to write about him on this very important topic.

New Year, New You

January 8, 2011

New Year, New You

A lot of people begin the New Year by making resolutions.

We’ve all been there.We take a vow to lose weight, exercise more or spend more time with our family. We start the year with great intentions, but then we quickly relapse into old habits.

Why is it so hard to stick to those New Year’s resolutions? Here are some ways you can make your intentions a reality this year:

  1. Write down your intentions and keep them in a visible place, like taped to your bedroom mirror or the dashboard of your car.
  2. Get to the source of whatever is keeping you in a rut. Are you in a stressful relationship that causes you to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s every night? Are you stressed at your job and feel too tired to exercise after work? If you don’t tackle the root of the behavior, it will be much harder to accomplish your goal.
  3. Be clear about what your life would look like once you achieve your goal. If you resolve to go to the gym more, how will this benefit you? Get connected to the result of your action, and you will be more likely to stick with your plan.
  4. Share your resolutions with friends and family. Hold each other accountable for achieving your goals. If you want to go to the gym more, have a friend call you two or three times a week to check on you or invite them to join you.
  5. Reward yourself with every little accomplishment. If your intention is to lose weight and you lose 1 pound a week, pamper yourself with a massage.

Big changes do not require big leaps. Permanent change is more likely to happen gradually than through one big restrictive plan. Allow yourself to climb the ladder one rung at a time.

Happy New Year!

Health Care System Transformation

December 18, 2010

 

Health Care System Transformation

 

This morning, I participated in an online forum sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on how to transform the Health Care system. I suggested the following:

1. Place a cap on malpractice awards
2. Eliminate conflict of interest at FDA (no funding should ever be accepted from pharmaceuticals)
3. Make it illegal for physicians and members of congress to accept anything (trips, training, money, etc…) from pharmaceuticals.
4. No more direct marketing to the consumer by pharmaceuticals (TV, magazines, etc…)
5. Have a public advisory board review the powers of the FDA and the drug approval process.
6. All medical providers should have their fee schedule posted prior to service being provided (the cost should not depend on whether patient is insured or not).

I also stated that the current system does not provide treatment to patients in a manner that is respectful to the patient. The human body is not just a group of organs. The human body is a complex system of organs that work together in an amazing way.

Many of us have lost trust in physicians because we have been prescribed treatments which do not consider the root cause of dis-ease, just provide treatment for manifested symptoms. In my humble opinion, treating the symptom without understanding the root cause could add more layers of complexity to the illness- side effects, masking of symptoms, etc…

If we are serious about improving WELLNESS in our society, our Health Care System should provide an INTEGRATIVE approach towards WELLNESS, which MUST include nutrition and nourishment education to our clients.

Beautiful Body Types

December 8, 2010

Beautiful Body Types

(This article appeared in the December, 2010 issue of A Healthy You.)

Almost all of us have a distorted image of our body, often due to the importance our culture places on outward appearance and the onslaught of media images of airbrushed models and celebrities.

On a daily basis, we talk to ourselves in ways we would never speak to another. Imagine speaking to a child the way you speak to yourself about your body. It would devastate and squelch a child. It affects you similarly, causing stress and emotional pain in your body, which can make improving your health or losing weight even more difficult.

Think of all the intelligence, creativity and time you spend on improving, altering and judging your appearance. Who would you be and what could you accomplish if your valuable resources weren’t used this way? Constant emphasis on the external makes us discount the great presence and intelligence that is housed by the body. It makes us forget the magic of our internal rhythms and fail to acknowledge the beautiful bodies we have.

The body you have right now is incredible! It never misses a heartbeat, it maintains homeostasis and it miraculously digests whatever you put in it. It is your instrument for expressing your creativity, intelligence and love. By focusing on the 1% you don’t like or wish were different, you may be ignoring the remaining 99% about your body that is beautiful, unique and delightful.

What would your life be like if you were simply at peace with the body you have? You may wish to make your body healthier and stronger, but could you do that out of love and respect for your body instead of the opposite? Could you begin to treat yourself with kindness, to limit the negative self-talk and to reconnect with your inner wisdom?

Take a minute to imagine what that would feel like. It would mean celebrating your body rather than punishing it. It would mean nourishing your body rather than depriving it. It would mean a chance to watch your body flourish when treated with care and respect.

Call to Action for Engineers

December 7, 2010
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Call to Action for Engineers

Yesterday, I attended the December meeting of the American Society of Civil Engineer’s Dallas Branch (ASCE). The keynote speaker was James M. Crites, Executive Vice President for the Operations Division of DFW International Airport. During his speech, he gazed out at the audience and commented on the number of gray heads in attendance. On numerous occasions, he thanked us for our service as Civil Engineers. He asked those of us who have retired and those who are near retirement to remember that there is a need for engineers and for the service we provide. He asked us to take the time to mentor the younger generation of Engineers and to make ourselves available to provide our expertise and knowledge in the future.

If you are a Baby Boomer like me, you may have already taken the opportunity to retire. You may have a desire to travel, study, or pursue a second career. However, there are many Engineers out there that are retiring or leaving the Engineering work force for other reasons.

During this time of economic uncertainty, many municipalities and organizations are downsizing. Additionally, many organizations do not have the funds available to retain an Engineering staff. Consequently, Engineers are leaving the work force in droves.

Engineers that are eligible to retire are often the first to leave. However, many of the employees that remain in the organizations are left behind without substantial experience or expertise. If the organization planned adequately for the future, a succession plan is already in place. If not, the remaining engineering staff may have difficulty carrying out the required job duties effectively.

Throughout my career, my focus has always been on mentoring and staff development. I am also an advocate for Public Works and for those men and women who, on a daily basis, take care of our basic needs. Even though I am no longer a full-time Public Works Director, I am available to assist on a project-specific or task-specific basis. Like me, there are other Public Servants that have left the work-force who have experience and expertise that should not be overlooked.

 

Spiritual PhytoEssencing

November 28, 2010

Spiritual PhytoEssencing

I was introduced to Dr. Bruce Berkowsky in the fall of 2001, while I was in the midst of a very difficult chapter in my life. I was living in South Florida at the time. I was a single parent, working at a very stressful job, in an extremely toxic environment. My health was awful and my spirits were at the lowest level I had ever experienced.

I commented to my friend, Bruce, that I needed to get away. I needed to go somewhere near the mountains. I needed to re-energize. His suggestion was that I travel to La Conner, Washington, where he was attending a class on Spiritual PhytoEssencing, that was being conducted by Dr. Bruce Berkowsky. Without hesitation, I agreed.

I quickly explained to him that I had no interest in attending a workshop during the trip. My intentions were to go “veg” out in nature while I was in Washington State. However, when I met Dr. Berkowsky, who graciously invited me to “listen-in” to the morning’s session, I was hooked. I felt that everything I had been reading, studying, learning and was interested in was wrapped up into one subject matter called “Spiritual PhytoEssencing”.

To quote Dr. Berkowsky, Spiritual PhytoEssencing is: “The use of essential oils for deep soul-spiritual work integrating classical homeopathy, modern physiology, Chinese and herbal medicines, Kabbalah and anthroposophical medicine.”

Since I was a teenager, I had surrounded myself with books on Kabbalah, herbs, reflexology, homeopathy, wellness & health and aromatherapy. The light-switch was now fully turned on.

I attended Dr. Berkowsky’s workshops every year from 2001 until 2006. I incorporated many of the lessons I received during my training, custom blends, lifestyle modifications and many spiritual lessons received into my everyday life. Since that very dark experience in South Florida, my life has changed dramatically and is now filled with light, healthy lifestyle choices and healthy relationships.

While it was necessary for me to take a break from the fulfilling yet intense coursework required for the study of Spiritual PhytoEssencing, the yearning for working with these amazing essential oils stayed deeply rooted within me. I devised a plan of action:

Step 1: Attain additional knowledge on nutrition and healthy lifestyles
Step 2: Obtain my certification as a Health Coach
Step 3: Upon retirement from my full-time job, obtain my Spiritual PhytoEssencing Diploma.

Now that I have completed Steps 1 and 2, I plan to obtain my Spiritual PhytoEssencing Diploma in 2011. WooHoooooo!!!! Let the SPE ride begin!!!!!

Why is Health Coaching important to me?

November 27, 2010

Why is Health Coaching important to me?

I was asked this question as part of my coursework at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

Personally, this work will allow me to be myself. I have struggled with the concept of “living in two worlds” for most of my life. My physical reality has been to raise my kids in an environment where I had to work many hours in a non-traditional role. While I loved my career in the Public Works and construction arena, my spiritual self has reached out to nature world for replenishing my body and spirit as a coping mechanism for the reality of a stressful life. I am grateful to have attained recognition and success in my public endeavor, but I yearned for the peace of having balance in my life. Incorporation of my health coaching practice into my life allows me to promote my healthy-lifestyle approach on a public level.

Professionally, my goal is to focus on working with women, and as a result of working with women, affecting the health and well-being of their children. Many professional women that I have worked with struggle with issues that limit their ability to have balance in their life while attaining success in their career of choice. My experience can provide a foundation from which to build a balanced approach towards attaining professional, spiritual, emotional, physical and financial success.

The impact that we have on others is incredible. I have already been blessed with receiving appreciation from acquaintances because I positively impacted their life. At the time, I did not realize the impact that my actions and words would have on them. Many years later, I was confronted in a very powerful way and was told how much they appreciated my help. This is very powerful. Our actions have an effect on others – whether we realize it or not. This is a huge responsibility which I do not take lightly.

Leadership

November 8, 2010

Leadership

I attended a wonderful workshop last week. The workshop leader was Janice Madariaga. This was the second time that I attended one of her workshops and I was thrilled to see her there!!. Janice encouraged us to find an “Aha!” moment every day, and read or listen to at least one inspirational book every week.
During the workshop, Janice mentioned another workshop leader named Coach Joe Gilliam, who recently passed away. Anybody that has been blessed with the opportunity to attend one of Coach Joe’s workshops will probably tell you that Coach Joe was not a man to mince words. He sometimes sounded harsh- but he always spoke respectfully.

What I learned from Coach Joe: Leaders are always on call. If we see something wrong, we must try to correct it. He urged us to seek time everyday to fill our heads with positive thoughts. He urged us to constantly respond to life with the words “Excellent and Exceptional”.

I watched this man in amazement. He was extremely animated and he interspersed personal stories into his workshop. He taught us that we don’t always have to separate our personal selves from our professional selves – his love for his wife and pride in his family shone through every story and example. His priorities were clearly stated with every word he uttered.

What I learned from Janice: Allow yourself the freedom to write down your “Aha” moments. Also, to read at least one inspirational book or listen to an inspirational audio book per week. She said that “we only have to give what we put inside”.

Coach Joe used an example of a supervisor that allowed friendship with his employees to get in the way of making good decisions. The supervisor in the example was afraid that his employees would no longer like him. He urged this supervisor to post a sign in his office: I am here to lead, not to be liked. Yes, this sounds tough. But, we have all seen instances in the workplace of situations where friendship outside the workplace influences how employees are treated at the job site. The negative ramifications to employee morale are huge!!!!

As we accept the role of leader, we also accept the responsibility associated with the role. Coach Joe, you touched many lives and influenced a lot of leaders. You will be missed!

Get Slow

November 8, 2010

Get Slow

Easy Does it….

If we must accomplish many things each day, we can still change the quality with which we do things. How can we transmute that sprint to the train into something delicious instead of the usual gripping and tightening experience? Where can we find ease in the midst of stress? How can we cultivate the art of going slowly?

  • Take a few moments before you climb out of bed in the morning to remember your dreams and to think about what you want from the day.
  • Leave your watch on the bedside table.
  • Take the scenic route.
  • Sit for a moment with your eyes closed when you start your computer.
  • Check email only twice a day.
  • Don’t pack your schedule so tightly that there’s no time for a short walk.
  • Light candles before you start to cook dinner.

Add one moment here and there for slowness; it can be done simply and will have a profound effect on your well-being.

Who doesn’t feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day? We rush through the day, running here and there, and end up exhausted. Somehow these days full of duties, obligations and busy- ness have begun to build up and become our lives. We spend our time doing things we don’t really want to do, yet feel we should. We’ve come to believe that being productive and crossing things off our to-do list is the ultimate goal.

The truth is, life on Earth is a brief gift, and our time is too precious to be used like this. If we want our lives to be balanced and healthy, we need to lessen our load and increase our down time. This means planning less in a day, prioritizing those things that make our hearts sing and de- prioritizing those things that are not imperative.

“There is more to life than increasing its speed. “ -Gandhi

Time Management

October 8, 2010

Time Management

(This article appeared in the October, 2010 issue of A Healthy You.)

Have you ever wished for a few more hours in the day?

Why is it that some people seem to get everything done effortlessly and others feel that time constantly eludes them? The secret to managing your time well isn’t working more hours. It is about prioritizing the important things and learning to use the time you have more efficiently and effectively. The secret is working smarter, not harder.

Some of us, by nature, organize and get tasks out of the way before we relax, while others of us play first and work later. It is important to first recognize which type you are and whether your style is allowing you to have the life you really want. Maybe you are super-organized at work, but burned out because you don’t know how to make time for yourself. Maybe you are naturally a less organized person who knows how to relax, but you are dissatisfied because you aren’t fulfilling your goals and dreams.

Rather than labeling yourself or beating yourself up, realize that time management is an area of your life that you can strengthen. Like a new muscle, it takes practice and repetition to make it stronger. To help you get started, here are some steps to streamline your days at work and at home. Try the first one or two that jump out at you.

Monday

Planning/Organizing
Allocate time for planning and organizing.
Create to-do lists that are realistic, not intimidating. Use only one to-do list.

Tuesday

Scheduling
Under-schedule your time: Leave time for the unexpected and for interruptions. When you estimate how long something will take, add on a third of that time.
Schedule your time in a way that reduces interruptions that lower your productivity.

Wednesday

Prioritization
Practice the art of intelligent neglect: Eliminate trivial tasks.
Prioritize what is most important and do that first.

Thursday

Task Acceptance
If you say yes to everything that comes your way, learn to say no.
Ask for help and delegate.

Friday

Letting it go
Acknowledge yourself for all that you have accomplished.
Make your to-do list for the next week. Leave work with a clear head and a clean desk.

Water

November 27, 2009

Water

Today, in my Distance Learning studies at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I became much more informed about water. Those of you who know me personally, know that I have a passion for the preservation of our natural resources as well as for promoting Water Conservation. The following websites were brought to my attention:

http://www.watercure.com
http://www.masaru-emoto.net/

One of my classmates also brought my attention to the work of Raymond Grace:

https://www.raymongrace.us/#/.

Mr. Grace utilizes intent to purify and energize water.

I found all of the above links very powerful and interesting. I hope that you enjoy them as much as I have.

Blessings,

Ruthie

Chemotypes

July 25, 2009

Chemotypes

I have just started my new venture. It is an e-commerce site featuring QUALITY essential oils.

William Chambers, a master in the arts of essential oils, provided me with some sourcing information as well as some safety precaution guidelines:

I asked him to explain to me why he included the following description in the sourcing information for the rosemary which I just ordered: “ct: 1,8” and the word “cineole”. He explained that, for rosemary, 1.8 cineole is the most used, ‘eucalyptus-smelling’ variety. William said that, although the camphor variety is sometimes used, there are safety precautions that limit its use in larger doses, so it is not commonly used at all.

In William’s amazing way of simplifying the most complex information, he also gave me the following information: Some plant species produce what are called different ‘chemotypes’.  Rosemary officinale can grow with a predominance of 3 different chemical varieties.  Rosemary chemotypes are:   ct:  1,8 cineole  (aka ‘eucalyptol’) usually from Morocco; ct: camphor normally grown in Spain; and ct: bornyl acetate, and verbenone (or  ct: bav) from France.

He explained that Thyme also has various chemotypes:  ct’s:  thymol, linalol, geraniol, thuyanol, citral.  It is very important to know which chemotype one has, because of possible contraindications and safety data (one particular chemotype might be safe for use and another chemotype might be an irritant).

It is important to research and understand the chemotype information of other essential oils as well. Some oils, like geranium, may have many different chemotypes, but only a few are harvested and distilled.

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