My children often think I go overboard with all this "healthy stuff". They subtly roll their eyes, or shut down when I start lecturing them on my soapbox. But they are my kids, and I have a duty to protect them- and protect them I will.
"Children are resilient", I often hear. It makes me cringe and want to scream, "No! Children are fragile. Handle with care!!" A child's body, growing and developing, will incorporate everything it gets into the cells. Those cells are often overloaded with all kinds of garbage: chemicals, toxins, vaccines. How is a kid supposed to de-tox all that junk? They can't.
Parents will often have their children clean the bathroom, using horrible chemicals. Do they have a right to poison their kids in this way? Or they'll give a child pest-control spray and tell them to kill the bugs- and douse themselves in the process. Don't even get me started on the chemicals in processed food. Canned food, bottled water, plastic packaging, chemical packaging... Parents often don't think through this. Why? I think we kinda like the convenience of it all. We are duped into thinking that if they are selling it, it must be OK. Think again.
We parents must be convinced in our own minds of the importance of keeping our kids chemical-free. We must educate ourselves, so that when they argue or dig their heels into the ground, we, too, can stand our ground. Once we know the dangers of all these chemicals we are exposed to each and every day, minute by minute, we can say without fear, "No, you are not going to (eat, use, wear) this chemical!"
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Cell Phones- Super or Sinister?
Cell phones are both blessing and bane. I admit, I love having one. I mean, I grew up in the age of payphones, and now that I have my own, the convenience is like, the eighth wonder of the world. (Maybe we're up to the ninth-- I don't know...)
The first portable cell phone, invented by Martin Cooper in 1973, were monster-sized, comparatively speaking. They were like talking into a brick, in both size and weight. But hey, they were portable! Convenience was born.
Today's cell phones are beautiful, sleek, and oh-so-powerful. But are they safe? Well, yes and no. Brain tumors are up 25% since 1973, and many people link cell phones to cancer. Your sugar levels (glucose) in your brain rise after talking on the cell phone for as little as 50 minutes. That's a bad thing. Bone density decreases the longer the phone is worn on the body- specifically, if you always wear your phone on your belt or in your pocket because the bone that is getting thinner is the bone that is used for bone grafts. That's not good, either.
Some people report getting inexplicably ill with MS-like symptoms after cell phone towers go up, or with a lot of exposure to cell phones. Why is this happening? Because cell phones emit radiation. Yikes! Not a good thing!
OK- so how can we be practical, use our cell phones, and still be safe? Here are a few tips.
There-- now we can safely use our cell phones, and still be safe- in a practical way.
The first portable cell phone, invented by Martin Cooper in 1973, were monster-sized, comparatively speaking. They were like talking into a brick, in both size and weight. But hey, they were portable! Convenience was born.
Today's cell phones are beautiful, sleek, and oh-so-powerful. But are they safe? Well, yes and no. Brain tumors are up 25% since 1973, and many people link cell phones to cancer. Your sugar levels (glucose) in your brain rise after talking on the cell phone for as little as 50 minutes. That's a bad thing. Bone density decreases the longer the phone is worn on the body- specifically, if you always wear your phone on your belt or in your pocket because the bone that is getting thinner is the bone that is used for bone grafts. That's not good, either.
Some people report getting inexplicably ill with MS-like symptoms after cell phone towers go up, or with a lot of exposure to cell phones. Why is this happening? Because cell phones emit radiation. Yikes! Not a good thing!
OK- so how can we be practical, use our cell phones, and still be safe? Here are a few tips.
- Use a corded headset- (not a bluetooth!)
- Use the speakerphone for conversations whenever possible.
- Don't wear it on your body. Keep it in your purse, or in your car. You and your caller will survive without instant communication. (Remember answering machines?)
- Buy a cell phone radiation shield. These are supposed to protect you from harmful radiation so you don't nuke your brain.
- Never allow children, with their thin skulls and still-developing cells, to use cell phones. Danger, danger Ranger Bob!
There-- now we can safely use our cell phones, and still be safe- in a practical way.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Neck Pain
It started out as dizziness just before bed. I took the remedy Kali Ferro, thinking whatever it was, I'd better nip it in the bud before it develops into something "big". The night passed uneventfully. But when I woke up, my neck was so stiff, I couldn't move it. Begging my children to massage it, they took turns until none of us could take it any more. It swelled up and became untouchable in one spot.
A rule in homeopathy is that whenever the symptoms change, so must the remedy. Muscle testing proved that an additional remedy, Baryta Carb, would be beneficial to take along with Kali Ferro.
But what was causing all this pain, I wondered?? That's a very important question- and the answer is equally import to know. After all, how can I avoid this the next time? Through muscle testing, we determined that it was linked to the oil paints I had begun using the day earlier. Oils can be rather toxic, as some pigments contain chromium, manganese and/or other toxins. But I never dreamed that I was intolerant of them. After all, I'd done a lot of painting before.
White Willow Bark was taken to reduce the swelling and alleviate the pain. It helped, but what helped most during the acute stage, quite surprisingly, were the essential oils Angelica and Carrot Root, mixed in equal amounts, and applied to the back. (Thank you, DH, for the wonderful massage. I'm sure that did me sooo much good!!)
Once I realized it was toxins, and not the usual infectious agent, I took a few supplements to draw them out: Standard Process SP Cleanse, Super Chlorella, and Garden of Life's Perfect Cleanse Capture and Perfect Cleanse Remove. I only needed one dose for each of these. After completing the treatment with a visit to my wonderful chiropractor, Dr. Holland, I now feel much better. No more pain!
Should we be concerned over toxic products? You betcha! Should we take steps of action to avoid them? Only if we want to be practical in taking care of our health.
A rule in homeopathy is that whenever the symptoms change, so must the remedy. Muscle testing proved that an additional remedy, Baryta Carb, would be beneficial to take along with Kali Ferro.
But what was causing all this pain, I wondered?? That's a very important question- and the answer is equally import to know. After all, how can I avoid this the next time? Through muscle testing, we determined that it was linked to the oil paints I had begun using the day earlier. Oils can be rather toxic, as some pigments contain chromium, manganese and/or other toxins. But I never dreamed that I was intolerant of them. After all, I'd done a lot of painting before.
White Willow Bark was taken to reduce the swelling and alleviate the pain. It helped, but what helped most during the acute stage, quite surprisingly, were the essential oils Angelica and Carrot Root, mixed in equal amounts, and applied to the back. (Thank you, DH, for the wonderful massage. I'm sure that did me sooo much good!!)
Once I realized it was toxins, and not the usual infectious agent, I took a few supplements to draw them out: Standard Process SP Cleanse, Super Chlorella, and Garden of Life's Perfect Cleanse Capture and Perfect Cleanse Remove. I only needed one dose for each of these. After completing the treatment with a visit to my wonderful chiropractor, Dr. Holland, I now feel much better. No more pain!
Should we be concerned over toxic products? You betcha! Should we take steps of action to avoid them? Only if we want to be practical in taking care of our health.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Avoiding Diabetes
My birth family has diabetes- big time. My dad developed it in his 50's. My mom developed it in her 60's. As best as I can figure out without directly asking, both my older brothers developed it in their 40's, and are both insulin dependent. My younger sister developed it the earliest, in her early 40's, and my youngest brother has been cautioned that if he didn't do something to change the path he was on, that he would develop it, too.
Our dad existed with the ravaging effects of diabetes for 20 years, getting worse and worse. His eyes were greatly affected by the disease, as well as his feet. He had lost the feeling in his hands, and couldn't feel anything up to his knees. His last three years were spent on dialysis. He actually out-lived the docs' expectations. He was a superhero.
Why am I the only sibling without diabetes?
Twenty years ago, I decided to change my diet, and as a result, my sugar levels are perfect. You see, the Lord sent me a message over the airwaves. It went something like this: "Women who have at least three years of college have a better diet." That's me, I thought, I've been to college. I'm a woman. I can do this! From then on, I decided to research and implement better nutrition.
How to avoid diabetes
The first thing we did was to start grinding our own wheat, using an electric mill. The initial investment was costly, but well worth it. Buying 50lb bags of wheat berries, I started baking my own bread, and grinding my own wheat to replace store bought, worthless white flour. (White flour is dead- all the nutrients are gone, so there is no nutrition left. Even insects won't eat the stuff!)
Then I began to serve a salad at every meal. Using nutrition-packed Romaine lettuce, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, and red peppers makes for quite a tasty salad. Did you know that there are carbs in vegetables? So- salad can help fill up the bellies of those hungry children. Not to mention all the health benefits of fresh/raw foods!
Then I went on the Rosedale Diet. Cutting out, or at least drastically reducing all grains such as flours, bread, pasta, barley & oats have allowed me to maintain low insulin levels. It was really hard to do, but surprisingly enough, has been fairly simple to hold. If I'm hungry, I eat nuts, salad or an apple.
The last sweeping change I made to my diet was to include healthy oils. I now make my own salad dressing using olive oil, and I'm not afraid to use it. (Oils help to fill you up, believe it or not.) I got into a cooperative buy of a 55 gallon drum of coconut oil to replace cooking oil. (Coconut oil has its own fantastic health benefits. More on that later.) I even take cod liver oil. (Loads of benefits there, too!)
The best change is slow change
If you are in crisis, then make your changes quickly. If you are young and can afford to take the time to do it slowly, the change will stick better. I'm not a purist, but because I have made such good progress in better eating, my insulin levels can afford some treats.
Know the signs
The overt signs of diabetes are an unquenchable thirst, frequent urination (duh!), weight loss or gain, blurred vision, or falling into a diabetic coma. But there are subtle warning signs that can alert you that trouble is on the horizon. Whenever I feel like I have "hit a brick wall", I'll think back and realize that I have eaten poorly prior to the event, and my sugar levels dropped too low. This warns me to stop allowing myself the privilege of getting off track, and I know that I must severely limit my carbs once again. Swollen ankles or hands indicate a lack of protein. So I'll eat an egg or some cheese, and that always eliminates the swelling. Lack of focus is another indicator of too many "treats". I know, I know-- it's better to always be perfect, but hey, pobody's nerfect!!
Diabetes can be reversed
As long as you aren't too far gone, it's as simple as this: no grains, no sugar, more veggies, and add good oils (uncooked olive oil, cooked/uncooked coconut oil).
Now isn't that practical?
Our dad existed with the ravaging effects of diabetes for 20 years, getting worse and worse. His eyes were greatly affected by the disease, as well as his feet. He had lost the feeling in his hands, and couldn't feel anything up to his knees. His last three years were spent on dialysis. He actually out-lived the docs' expectations. He was a superhero.
Why am I the only sibling without diabetes?
Twenty years ago, I decided to change my diet, and as a result, my sugar levels are perfect. You see, the Lord sent me a message over the airwaves. It went something like this: "Women who have at least three years of college have a better diet." That's me, I thought, I've been to college. I'm a woman. I can do this! From then on, I decided to research and implement better nutrition.
How to avoid diabetes
The first thing we did was to start grinding our own wheat, using an electric mill. The initial investment was costly, but well worth it. Buying 50lb bags of wheat berries, I started baking my own bread, and grinding my own wheat to replace store bought, worthless white flour. (White flour is dead- all the nutrients are gone, so there is no nutrition left. Even insects won't eat the stuff!)
Then I began to serve a salad at every meal. Using nutrition-packed Romaine lettuce, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, and red peppers makes for quite a tasty salad. Did you know that there are carbs in vegetables? So- salad can help fill up the bellies of those hungry children. Not to mention all the health benefits of fresh/raw foods!
Then I went on the Rosedale Diet. Cutting out, or at least drastically reducing all grains such as flours, bread, pasta, barley & oats have allowed me to maintain low insulin levels. It was really hard to do, but surprisingly enough, has been fairly simple to hold. If I'm hungry, I eat nuts, salad or an apple.
The last sweeping change I made to my diet was to include healthy oils. I now make my own salad dressing using olive oil, and I'm not afraid to use it. (Oils help to fill you up, believe it or not.) I got into a cooperative buy of a 55 gallon drum of coconut oil to replace cooking oil. (Coconut oil has its own fantastic health benefits. More on that later.) I even take cod liver oil. (Loads of benefits there, too!)
The best change is slow change
If you are in crisis, then make your changes quickly. If you are young and can afford to take the time to do it slowly, the change will stick better. I'm not a purist, but because I have made such good progress in better eating, my insulin levels can afford some treats.
Know the signs
The overt signs of diabetes are an unquenchable thirst, frequent urination (duh!), weight loss or gain, blurred vision, or falling into a diabetic coma. But there are subtle warning signs that can alert you that trouble is on the horizon. Whenever I feel like I have "hit a brick wall", I'll think back and realize that I have eaten poorly prior to the event, and my sugar levels dropped too low. This warns me to stop allowing myself the privilege of getting off track, and I know that I must severely limit my carbs once again. Swollen ankles or hands indicate a lack of protein. So I'll eat an egg or some cheese, and that always eliminates the swelling. Lack of focus is another indicator of too many "treats". I know, I know-- it's better to always be perfect, but hey, pobody's nerfect!!
Diabetes can be reversed
As long as you aren't too far gone, it's as simple as this: no grains, no sugar, more veggies, and add good oils (uncooked olive oil, cooked/uncooked coconut oil).
Now isn't that practical?
Sunday, July 3, 2011
White Willow Bark
Today I had a headache from too much teenage drama. A few tears, some stress, then a post-nap headache. I didn't have time to deal with it before I had to leave, so I had to wait it out for two very long hours, hoping it would go on its own. But no- I was forced to deal with it.
I thought I would give White Willow Bark a go. I've used it before with good success. Compared to aspirin, it takes longer to work, but the benefits outweigh aspirin, and the effects last longer.
Aspirin v. White Willow Bark
Why not just use aspirin, like everybody else? For a number of good reasons. Firstly, it's a whole product, unlike aspirin which is an isolated compound with additives to buffer the wickedly bitter taste. As a whole herb, there are more benefits in the complex compounds. There are antioxidants in there- a real plus. It's antiseptic, too- meaning that it fights infection. Inflammation is reduced, and that helps with many problems, including osteoarthritis and low back pain. To top it off, it will actually boost the immune system, helping the body to protect itself from attack by infectious agents. Did I mention it cures headaches?
Dosage
One capsule every six hours. You could make a tea from it, but I'd rather just take a capsule than drink the stuff!
Contraindications
--Courtesy of University of Maryland Medical Center
(But we don't take drugs, now, do we?!?)
It's been an hour since I took the White Willow Bark, and I feel a lot better. The headache gradually subsided, and the inflammation is gone. I like this herb.
These statements have been approved by Mom at practical-health. Feel free to comment!
I thought I would give White Willow Bark a go. I've used it before with good success. Compared to aspirin, it takes longer to work, but the benefits outweigh aspirin, and the effects last longer.
Aspirin v. White Willow Bark
Why not just use aspirin, like everybody else? For a number of good reasons. Firstly, it's a whole product, unlike aspirin which is an isolated compound with additives to buffer the wickedly bitter taste. As a whole herb, there are more benefits in the complex compounds. There are antioxidants in there- a real plus. It's antiseptic, too- meaning that it fights infection. Inflammation is reduced, and that helps with many problems, including osteoarthritis and low back pain. To top it off, it will actually boost the immune system, helping the body to protect itself from attack by infectious agents. Did I mention it cures headaches?
Dosage
One capsule every six hours. You could make a tea from it, but I'd rather just take a capsule than drink the stuff!
Contraindications
Anticoagulants (blood-thinning medications) -- Willow bark may strengthen the effects of drugs and herbs with blood-thinning properties, and increase the risk of bleeding.
Beta blockers -- including Atenolol (Tenormin), Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL), Propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA). Willow bark may make these drugs less effective.
Diuretics (water pills) -- Willow bark may make these drugs less effective.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Taking willow bark with these drugs may increase risk of stomach bleeding.
Methotrexate and phenytoin (Dilantin) -- Willow may increase levels of these drugs in the body, resulting in toxic levels --Courtesy of University of Maryland Medical Center
(But we don't take drugs, now, do we?!?)
It's been an hour since I took the White Willow Bark, and I feel a lot better. The headache gradually subsided, and the inflammation is gone. I like this herb.
These statements have been approved by Mom at practical-health. Feel free to comment!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Eating Healthy Costs Less Than You (Might) Think
OK- maybe you already know how to eat healthy for cheap. But if you don't, here are my personal secrets. This is how I have fed my nine fine children. For cheap.
Skirt the edges
Ever notice the layout of a grocery store? All the staples are on the outer edges. Everything costly (processed) is in the center. Even the paper products are in the center of the store. As I follow the layout of my Kroger, first I hit the fresh stuff- fruit and veggies. Then it's on to the bread, passing the meat counter as I go. Dairy and eggs come next, followed by the ice cream. (Did I say ice cream??? Freudian slip, there.) Anyway, eating fresh costs less than the processed food. Really, it does.
We use very little paper products now, and when things were really tight financially, I didn't use any paper products. We used cloth napkins, and washed them. I used rags for spills, not paper towels. (We still do, for the most part.) Paper plates are a luxury. We only bought them for camping. Seriously- it works very well to use cloth. Try it sometime.
Big Families shop at Sam's Club
I am amazed at how much money we save by buying our food there. The grocery store would probably cost half again as much as buying at Sam's. I can hear you protesting right now. You're telling me, "But we can't eat it before it goes bad!" Then eat more fresh!! Did you know that half your plate should be fresh food? We are living organisms, and we need live food. Think about it. Makes sense, doesn't it?
Shop at Randazzo's Fruit Market
Randazzo's buys from the Eastern Market in Detroit, and Mr. Randazzo has made a very nice living off buying less-than-perfect produce. We can't always tell the difference, and if we buy the proper amount, it doesn't go bad on us. In season, I can spend about $15-20 for all the fresh produce we need for about 10 days. Considering how much fresh food we eat, that's a reeeeeally good bargain!
Grow a Garden
I love my garden. It gives, and gives, and gives. I rarely work in it, due to my special gardening techniques. (More on that another time.) Due to my special techniques, my lettuce self-sows, and I start eating it in May!! As soon as I can, I sow more seeds, and I have lettuce and spinach until it gets hot! Then in late August, I will again sow lettuce and spinach seeds. I get a lot of organic, home-grown lettuce this way. I'm also trying my hand at indoor gardening- I haven't perfected that yet. Broccoli yields and yields, too. Some herbs are perennial and they are so generous! I have chives, sage, chamomile, oregano, and leeks in that category. I also plant cukes, zucchini, green beans, peppers and tomatoes. (Tomatoes self-sow, too, if you do it right.) And for the first time ever, I have planted potatoes. Can't wait to see how they do!
Food is Medicine
According to Thomas Edison, he thought that the doctors of the future would truly consider food as medicine. We're still waiting on that, but practically speaking, food really is medicine. As they say, garbage in, garbage out; if you eat rotten foods, your body will be rotten. I like to think of it this way: I can't afford NOT to eat well! Compare the price of a watermelon to the price of a doctor's visit. Eating healthy keeps my family healthy. What price can you put on that?
Practically yours,
PJR
Skirt the edges
Ever notice the layout of a grocery store? All the staples are on the outer edges. Everything costly (processed) is in the center. Even the paper products are in the center of the store. As I follow the layout of my Kroger, first I hit the fresh stuff- fruit and veggies. Then it's on to the bread, passing the meat counter as I go. Dairy and eggs come next, followed by the ice cream. (Did I say ice cream??? Freudian slip, there.) Anyway, eating fresh costs less than the processed food. Really, it does.
We use very little paper products now, and when things were really tight financially, I didn't use any paper products. We used cloth napkins, and washed them. I used rags for spills, not paper towels. (We still do, for the most part.) Paper plates are a luxury. We only bought them for camping. Seriously- it works very well to use cloth. Try it sometime.
Big Families shop at Sam's Club
I am amazed at how much money we save by buying our food there. The grocery store would probably cost half again as much as buying at Sam's. I can hear you protesting right now. You're telling me, "But we can't eat it before it goes bad!" Then eat more fresh!! Did you know that half your plate should be fresh food? We are living organisms, and we need live food. Think about it. Makes sense, doesn't it?
Shop at Randazzo's Fruit Market
Randazzo's buys from the Eastern Market in Detroit, and Mr. Randazzo has made a very nice living off buying less-than-perfect produce. We can't always tell the difference, and if we buy the proper amount, it doesn't go bad on us. In season, I can spend about $15-20 for all the fresh produce we need for about 10 days. Considering how much fresh food we eat, that's a reeeeeally good bargain!
Grow a Garden
I love my garden. It gives, and gives, and gives. I rarely work in it, due to my special gardening techniques. (More on that another time.) Due to my special techniques, my lettuce self-sows, and I start eating it in May!! As soon as I can, I sow more seeds, and I have lettuce and spinach until it gets hot! Then in late August, I will again sow lettuce and spinach seeds. I get a lot of organic, home-grown lettuce this way. I'm also trying my hand at indoor gardening- I haven't perfected that yet. Broccoli yields and yields, too. Some herbs are perennial and they are so generous! I have chives, sage, chamomile, oregano, and leeks in that category. I also plant cukes, zucchini, green beans, peppers and tomatoes. (Tomatoes self-sow, too, if you do it right.) And for the first time ever, I have planted potatoes. Can't wait to see how they do!
Food is Medicine
According to Thomas Edison, he thought that the doctors of the future would truly consider food as medicine. We're still waiting on that, but practically speaking, food really is medicine. As they say, garbage in, garbage out; if you eat rotten foods, your body will be rotten. I like to think of it this way: I can't afford NOT to eat well! Compare the price of a watermelon to the price of a doctor's visit. Eating healthy keeps my family healthy. What price can you put on that?
Practically yours,
PJR
How To Look Old
If you're 13 years old, this might sound really interesting to you; but if you're 35 years old, you probably are more interested in an article entitled, How To Look Young!! Since we adults don't relish the idea of looking old before our time, the following information might surprise you- a lot.
Eat Soy
Consuming soy in any of these various forms- as lecithin, soy milk, soy protein, soybean oil, some types of TVP (textured vegetable protein), soya, edamame- will add five years to your overall look, according to an article on Dr. Mercola's website. Soy is a known allergen- that's why it's listed on the label- but you might not be aware of how it can be affecting you. It can cause major disruptions in the body: everything from endocrine problems to headaches to infertility. It seems that most people are unaware of how it affects them. My husband suffers terrible migraines whenever he eats too much soy. Uncovering that fact was a major breakthrough. Now we avoid it like the plague, but it is very hard because nearly everything has soy in one form or another.
Use Chemical Creams, Lotions, Sprays, Make-up, etc. on Your Skin
Read the labels. If it contains ingredients you can't pronounce or wouldn't eat, it will eventually cause harm. There are many natural alternatives, and eventually, I'll share some products that I have found to work well. Skin is permeable, meaning that it isn't truly solid. Stuff gets through the skin and into your cells, doing a lot of damage. I remember hearing about a guy who used to do a cool party trick; he'd pour dry cleaning fluid onto his hand, then show people how it would drip through his hand. EWWWW!! (I wonder how long it took for him to develop... something terrible!?) As for make-up, I heard that the average woman wears five pounds of make-up a year. And every woman knows that much of that make-up soaks into our skin. Most importantly, make-up is mostly all chemicals, and therefore toxic.
Eat Processed Food
Any food not made from scratch is gonna have chemicals in it. Fresh, raw food tastes so much better without all those chemicals. After I had baked my first cake from scratch, my friend Cheryl told me, "Your liver will thank you!" The liver is where all the toxins go to get filtered from the body. When the liver gets overloaded, eyes get blue shadows or rings under them, a.k.a., "raccoon eyes". Additionally, you feel sluggish and tired. (Milk Thistle herb cleanses the liver very nicely.) Processed food will add lovely pounds to your bathroom scale, too.
Use Chemicals For Cleaning
Skin is permeable, and those chemicals easily get into your body as you touch them and inhale them. Vinegar and baking soda work great on most surfaces. Microfiber cloths work superbly for dusting- no spray required.
I surely could go on, but change usually happens little by little. People need a reason to change, too. I've heard it said that "people only change when it costs them too much not to change." That was me-- my health was failing, and I needed a change big time. I have put all the above into practice in my own life. Guess what?? It worked!!
Eat Soy
Consuming soy in any of these various forms- as lecithin, soy milk, soy protein, soybean oil, some types of TVP (textured vegetable protein), soya, edamame- will add five years to your overall look, according to an article on Dr. Mercola's website. Soy is a known allergen- that's why it's listed on the label- but you might not be aware of how it can be affecting you. It can cause major disruptions in the body: everything from endocrine problems to headaches to infertility. It seems that most people are unaware of how it affects them. My husband suffers terrible migraines whenever he eats too much soy. Uncovering that fact was a major breakthrough. Now we avoid it like the plague, but it is very hard because nearly everything has soy in one form or another.
Use Chemical Creams, Lotions, Sprays, Make-up, etc. on Your Skin
Read the labels. If it contains ingredients you can't pronounce or wouldn't eat, it will eventually cause harm. There are many natural alternatives, and eventually, I'll share some products that I have found to work well. Skin is permeable, meaning that it isn't truly solid. Stuff gets through the skin and into your cells, doing a lot of damage. I remember hearing about a guy who used to do a cool party trick; he'd pour dry cleaning fluid onto his hand, then show people how it would drip through his hand. EWWWW!! (I wonder how long it took for him to develop... something terrible!?) As for make-up, I heard that the average woman wears five pounds of make-up a year. And every woman knows that much of that make-up soaks into our skin. Most importantly, make-up is mostly all chemicals, and therefore toxic.
Eat Processed Food
Any food not made from scratch is gonna have chemicals in it. Fresh, raw food tastes so much better without all those chemicals. After I had baked my first cake from scratch, my friend Cheryl told me, "Your liver will thank you!" The liver is where all the toxins go to get filtered from the body. When the liver gets overloaded, eyes get blue shadows or rings under them, a.k.a., "raccoon eyes". Additionally, you feel sluggish and tired. (Milk Thistle herb cleanses the liver very nicely.) Processed food will add lovely pounds to your bathroom scale, too.
Use Chemicals For Cleaning
Skin is permeable, and those chemicals easily get into your body as you touch them and inhale them. Vinegar and baking soda work great on most surfaces. Microfiber cloths work superbly for dusting- no spray required.
I surely could go on, but change usually happens little by little. People need a reason to change, too. I've heard it said that "people only change when it costs them too much not to change." That was me-- my health was failing, and I needed a change big time. I have put all the above into practice in my own life. Guess what?? It worked!!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Knee Pain
Foot pain seems to run in my family. (No pun intended, but it was a good one!) My husband had foot pain so bad, he had custom othotics (shoe inserts) specially made for him- back in the days of extra money. Our son had knee pain that stemmed from a flattened arch. It was physical therapy for him. I have had chronic foot pain that drove me to a unique foot doc that treated me with magnets. That wasn't much of a cure. In fact, my foot problems led to pain in my knee, too.
Being a practical person, I always look for solutions. Turns out, there are quite a few. To keep it short and sweet, I'll only share the ones that have proved successful for us.
Shoe orthotics really do work- if you can afford them. They put your feet back to their anatomically correct positions, and voila'! Pain is gone! And you can get generic ones at bigger stores that work pretty well. However, they take up space in your shoe, and with a wide foot, it's uncomfortable.
Taking a hard look at my old shoes, I noticed that the out part of the soles were worn down unevenly. AHA!! If I roll my feet slightly inwardly, the pain in my knee disappeared. I urged my daughter, who wears out her shoes just the opposite of the way I do, to roll her feet to the outsides. I'm delighted with the results.
My son who had the aid of a physical therapist, tells me that he has learned to draw his big toe toward his arch. Works for him!
No expensive orthotics, our shoes are wearing evenly, and best of all, no more knee pain.
Being a practical person, I always look for solutions. Turns out, there are quite a few. To keep it short and sweet, I'll only share the ones that have proved successful for us.
Shoe orthotics really do work- if you can afford them. They put your feet back to their anatomically correct positions, and voila'! Pain is gone! And you can get generic ones at bigger stores that work pretty well. However, they take up space in your shoe, and with a wide foot, it's uncomfortable.
Taking a hard look at my old shoes, I noticed that the out part of the soles were worn down unevenly. AHA!! If I roll my feet slightly inwardly, the pain in my knee disappeared. I urged my daughter, who wears out her shoes just the opposite of the way I do, to roll her feet to the outsides. I'm delighted with the results.
My son who had the aid of a physical therapist, tells me that he has learned to draw his big toe toward his arch. Works for him!
No expensive orthotics, our shoes are wearing evenly, and best of all, no more knee pain.
To Teflon or Not to Teflon?
That is the question for today. Teflon seems to make our lives so much easier... for a little while. Have you noticed that eventually that smooth coating just... disappears? Ever think about where it goes???
Teflon gets into your food, and then it stays in your body. It's a poisonous toxin, called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or C-8, and it will eventually make you sick or wreck your health. The trouble is, you don't see it right away. It can take years for it to affect your health. Like getting cancer at age 45. Or a depressed immune system that displays itself in chronic auto-immune diseases. And that high cholesterol? Linked to Teflon. The kicker for me was when I read that caged birds died when they were merely near a Teflon pan at high heat.
Being a practical person, I decided to get rid of all my non-stick cookware, and replaced it with stainless steel. The pots work very nicely, the sauce pans do great, but the frying pans get messy and hard to clean. My best solution is to fill the pan with water, then put it back on the stove, heat it up and let it sit. A metal pancake turner will scrape all the old food off quite nicely. Using a yellow sponge with the green scrubby on the back cleans it up, and if necessary, I finish with a metal bristle brush.
Then I found a couple of PFOA-free frying pans- 6 in. and 12 in. "Hurray!!" I thought, "my problems are solved!" For the past seven months we have used these alternative non-stick pans. But now, to my great dismay, the 6 incher is starting to look nasty. And-- guess what?? It, too, is getting hard to clean. These pans were, in the words of my teenagers, an epic fail.
So once again, we were guinea pigs, and we have more than likely ingested some OTHER kind of chemical. yay. Back to stainless.
Teflon gets into your food, and then it stays in your body. It's a poisonous toxin, called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or C-8, and it will eventually make you sick or wreck your health. The trouble is, you don't see it right away. It can take years for it to affect your health. Like getting cancer at age 45. Or a depressed immune system that displays itself in chronic auto-immune diseases. And that high cholesterol? Linked to Teflon. The kicker for me was when I read that caged birds died when they were merely near a Teflon pan at high heat.
Being a practical person, I decided to get rid of all my non-stick cookware, and replaced it with stainless steel. The pots work very nicely, the sauce pans do great, but the frying pans get messy and hard to clean. My best solution is to fill the pan with water, then put it back on the stove, heat it up and let it sit. A metal pancake turner will scrape all the old food off quite nicely. Using a yellow sponge with the green scrubby on the back cleans it up, and if necessary, I finish with a metal bristle brush.
Then I found a couple of PFOA-free frying pans- 6 in. and 12 in. "Hurray!!" I thought, "my problems are solved!" For the past seven months we have used these alternative non-stick pans. But now, to my great dismay, the 6 incher is starting to look nasty. And-- guess what?? It, too, is getting hard to clean. These pans were, in the words of my teenagers, an epic fail.
So once again, we were guinea pigs, and we have more than likely ingested some OTHER kind of chemical. yay. Back to stainless.
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