Celiac disease is also known as gluten sensitive enteropathy.  Gluten makes bread doughy and sticky.  Gluten is also used as an adhesive on stamps.  It is found in grains such as wheat (not in wheatgrass juice), rye, spelt, barley, kamut, triticale, semolina and durham, but not in oats (although oats are often grown on former wheat fields causing cross contamination).  In celiac disease the immune system begins to produce antibodies when exposed to gluten.  These antibodies attack the fingerlike projections (microvilli) which line our small intestines.  This is where we absorb the nutrients for our body.  When these microvilli are attacked and destroyed, the body is unable to nourish itself with vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fats.  The list of dis-eases associated with celiac are too many to list; from asthma to multiple sclerosis.  If you already have a known autoimmune disease, you could be at risk for developing celiac disease.  Someone can become sensitized to gluten at any time of life.  It also runs in families and women are more affected than men.  There is no exact cause of celiac, making it impossible to prevent.  However, we already know it is healthier for every part of your body to stay away from processed foods.

Wheat as a raw grain is unsafe to eat.  Wheat flour must be heated to destroy the enzyme blockers and lectins within the grain to allow for its consumption.  Anytime we alter food from its original nature state we are processing the food.  Some healthy alternatives to wheat are quinoa and brown rice which are much less processed.  The aisles of the grocery store are now stocked with gluten-free alternatives.  I just picked up some gluten-free pretzels, which someone told me are better than regular pretzels.  I also love the gluten-free fig cookies.

Eating a gluten-free diet will allow the intestinal villi to heal.  Read food labels and medication labels carefully.  Hidden sources of grains, wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats, are found in many products.  If you have some of these symptoms and you feel better if you do not eat gluten, please contact your doctor.  Being tested is the only way to diagnose this disease.  I have stomach issues when I eat gluten and when I’m under stress at the same time.  Other times, I fine.  I try to stay away from processed foods.  Left untreated, celiac can cause chronic inflammation eventually causing complete atrophy and flattening of the microvilli.

Gluten can also impact the brain.  When a patient has full blown celiac it can cause chronic inflammation of the brain and nervous system which will impact function of these systems.  Gluten also contains glutamate.  This substance causes excessive excitation of brain cells which ultimately results in brain cell damage and brain cell death. 

We need to protect the body with proper nutrition, exercise, relaxation and give the body what it needs to properly get rid of offending foods, toxins and microbes it does not need.  I’ve said many times the body has the ability to heal itself.  We’ve been eating unhealthy for many years, we can not expect healing to happen overnight.  New and improved versions of gluten make it harder and harder for our bodies to fight infection, inflammation and disease.  We need to return to a diet full of nutrients that promote health and longevity and prevent dis-ease.  Gluten is responsible for so many symptoms, that I believe taking gluten out of our diets can only benefit us.

Is it just food?  I don’t believe so.  Changing your diet, even if you are not suffering from a disease, is not easy.  It will bring up emotions and feelings that have been long buried with food and other addictions.  The participants in the movie not only radically changed their food intake, but also took classes in alternative medicine, yoga, meditation, and spent their time in a beautiful, peaceful environment.  It’s important to surround yourself with support when you make any major changes in your life.  The results of this program brought astonishing results.  One person did leave the program.  But the other participants had exceptional results.  Within four days, most of the participants were off their insulin and oral anti-diabetic medications.  It was that quick.  After the 30 days, the Type 2 diabetics had achieved a level of health that was considered comparable with a normal non-diabetic physiology. 

It takes time to get on a healing track.  For most people, just taking meat out of their diet is traumatic.  These people went from eating a typical fast food diet their whole life to eating raw foods only.  They were introduced to supplements, enzyme therapy and exercise.  Moving was a very important factor in getting their blood sugar under control.  Exercise helps get the blood sugar into the cells.  The enzyme therapy is important because most people, especially diabetics, have a sluggish digestion process. 

We know it’s healthier to eat raw.  But do you have to do 100%?  No, you don’t.  Try eating as much raw as possible.  Also take red meat and chicken out of your diet.  Most of these animals are pumped with hormones and antibiotics.  Dairy should also be eliminated.  Dairy has been shown to increase childhood diabetes because of the inflammation it causes in the pancreas. 

One of the participants of the 30-day program went on to go to naturopathic medical school.  He was so influenced by his transition and his health by changing to a mainly raw food lifestyle that he chose to continue to help others.  He can now speak from personal experience.  I love this.  Make your own personal experience.  Being able to speak from personal experience will allow others to heal.  Diabetes is reversible.  The body is capable of healing itself.  Nutrition, mental health and exercise are all factors in that transition.  Statements from doctors about how there are no options for certain diseases or disorders, is damaging to your health.  I’ve heard of too many friends who believe the doctors and give up.  Share your knowledge about health with others.  Share the good news.

Unfortunately, even the American Diabetes Association says, “Diabetes is a chronic disease that has no cure.”  True fact….a good friend of mine is a diabetic.  We traveled to Florida many years ago and during that time she was free of stress and we were feeding her wheatgrass juice prior to our departure.  During our stay in Florida, she did not have to give herself a shot of insulin.  I’ve seen it work first hand.  Not just in the movies.  So why are doctors still not telling their diabetic patients about the raw food lifestyle?  I don’t know….ask yours.

Please consult your doctor before beginning any major lifestyle changes.

Have you asked yourself this question at any time?  I have and I used to take them at different times.  Usually when I found one on sale at the health food store or if my Mom happened to bring me a bottle from Hippocrates where she worked.  But I never felt like I needed one until recently.  More and more of us are finding benefits from nutritional and herbal supplements.  Sure, diet alone should be able to provide all the essential nutrition necessary for optimal health, but not many of us are eating a diet that could make that possible.  And most one a day multi vitamins provide less than ideal amounts of most key nutrients, not to mention you end up urinating out what your body doesn’t need. 

More and more Americans are now regularly taking vitamin or mineral supplements.  Unfortunately, most people taking a multiple vitamin or mineral supplement are still not getting what they really need.  Rueters Health states that “more than 30 percent of multivitamins tested recently by ConsumerLab.com contained significantly more or less of an ingredient than claimed, or were contaminated with lead..”

Minerals are important.  The key function of vitamins and minerals in the body revolve around their serving the role as essential components in enzymes and coenzymes.  Enzymes are chemicals that speed up the rate of reactions between substances while being consumed themselves.  They are vital to bodily functions like digestion. Enzymes are a type of protein that sometime work in tandem with non-proteins called coenzymes.  If an enzyme is lacking an essential mineral or vitamin, it can’t properly function.  We have to provide the necessary minerals through our diet to help.  These minerals or nutritional formulas help the enzyme perform its vital function.  Here’s an example:  If there is no zinc in the enzyme, the vitamin A cannot be converted to the active form.  This type of deficiency can result in night-blindness. 

How else to get enzymes in you?  A second category of enzymes is in raw foods that aid in the process of digesting those foods.  Such enzymes like proteases, implement the digestion of protein, lipases, help in digesting lipids or fats, and amylases, make it possible to digest carbs.  These enzymes set in motion the digestive process as the food is in the mouth.  They move with the food into your stomach and continue to aid in digestion.

Problems with the tolerable limits of certain multivitamins have been found in several multivitamin products.  Even one type of vitamin water, tested by ConsumerLab.com “had 15 times its stated amount of folic acid, so drinking one bottle would exceed the tolerable limit for adults…”

In my research for writing this blog, I’ve found a lot of information stating multivitamins to be more harmful than helpful.  What to do?  I agree with one doctor saying the safest way to get all the antioxidants and vitamins I need without exceeding doses, is to eat a balanced diet rich in plants, whole grains and legumes.  Fresh fruit and vegetables are far better for you than supplements.  Can you get enough into your diet?  I take a multivitamin a few times a week.  It actually makes me feel better.  In addition I eat a high raw diet and attempt to stay away from dairy and sugar.  Women and men have different nutritional needs.  For instance, men rearly need to supplement their diet with iron.  I am finding I need more iron with perimenopause. 

There’s much to be informed of when it comes to the answer to this question.  As I always say…Do your research.  There is a wealth of knowledge out there.  Find it.  It may be different for you, your spouse or your children.  Take the time to read about what you need or consult your physician.

 These statements are informational only.  Please consult your primary health care physician with questions you may have regarding supplements.

I’d like to take this opportunity to give you a fact about the flu vaccine (not swine).  As you may know, my Dad has had 30% of his heart working for the last 6 years or so.  Recently it has gone down to 13% and he will be having surgery this week.  A month ago his doctor told him to get a flu shot. He never has, but was worried about getting sick especially the way he has been feeling.  He immediately got the flu and was sick for a month from getting a flu shot.  He lost weight and had to postpone his surgery.  This is a fact.

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, claims celery calms the nerves.  It is also good for the kidneys and will eliminate body waste through the urine.  Every part of the celery can be used, from the seeds to the leaves and the edible root of this plant.  It has a high calcium content.  Celery is also used in aromatherapy and in Ayurvedic medicine.  Rheumatic patients in Japan are sometimes put on a celery diet.  Celery is a high water content veggie, like cucumber.  Great for juicing and eating raw too for fiber.  Scientists found 3nB while searching for the reason of the medicinal effects of celery such as lowering blood pressure and relieving arthritis.

Here’s what we now know:  Celery will reduce high blood pressure and give the effect of calmness.  Celery clears uric acid from painful joints and help the treatment of arthritis and other rheumatic problems.  Celery helps the kidneys and acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and celery is very low in calories because of its high water content.  You can drink celery juice frequently to curb your cravings for sweets and rich food.

Celery is from the parsley and fennel family.  The white parts of the celery are shaded from the sun, thus less chlorophyll, compared to the greener outside stems.  Celery is the perfect addition to soups and salads.  Celery juice is a good mix with sweeter fruit juices because of its salty taste.  The nutritional benefits of celery leaves are its high content of vitamin A.  The stems are an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C with richness in potassium, calcium, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium and lots of amino acids.  During juicing, nutrients in the fiber are released, aiding bowel movements.  Yes, celery has a natural organic sodium content, but is very safe for consumption.  Worried because you are salt-sensitive?  No worries.  It is unlike table salt, which is harmful for those with high blood pressure. 

Recent studies have shown that celery may also help to combat cancer.  Celery is known to have at least eight families of anti-cancer compounds, which will stop the growth of tumor cells, block the action of prostaglandins that encourage the growth of tumor cells and coumarins which help prevent free radicals from damaging cells.  Celery will also balance the body’s blood pH, helping to neutralize acid and bringing you to a more alkaline base.  Celery juice is the perfect drink for after your workout.  It will replace lost electrolytes and rehydrate your body and has been shown to effectively and significantly lower total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol.  Celery can also be used as a natural laxative, relieving constipation.  Also use celery juice to help regulate body fluid and stimulate urine production, which is important to help rid the body of excess fluid. 

The polyacetylene in celery will relieve all inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis.

3nB has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the formation of arterial plaque in experimental studies.  This will also increase the elasticity of blood vessels and lead to lowering blood pressure readings.  Celery is also a diuretic.  Most diuretics have dangerous side effects that result from either too much potassium or sodium.  Celery extract acts as a diuretic but does not alter the ratio of sodium to potassium in the blood.  The research on this is preliminary and some people will respond to this treatment and others won’t.  This is also typical with conventional drugs.  Drugs will lower blood flow to the brain, leaving people feeling tired, depressed, and forgetful.  Celery extract has been shown to not only help prevent strokes, but also improve blood flow as well. 

I have low blood pressure, and some people have had problems with celery because it will make their blood pressure even lower.  I’ve never had a problem with it, so far.  Listen to your own body..

Statements are meant to be informational only.  Please consult with your medical practitioner if you are considering celery extract or celery to treat your symptoms.

Fun but true fact: celery was used in ancient Greece as a reward in sports contests.

These six food compounds can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease: Soluble fiber, Potassium, Carotenoids, Omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and Flavonoids. 

Soluble fiber combines with water in your GI tract to absorb cholesterol and stop it from being distributed through your body.  It will also push it out of you.  We all know how great fiber is for elimination, right?  Sometimes called roughage, fiber is the indigestable portion of plant food.  Wikipedia says, “Soluble fiber, like all fiber, cannot be digested.  But is does change as it passes through the digestive tract, being transformed (fermented) by bacteria there.  Soluble fiber also absorbs water to become a gelatinous substance that passes through the body”.   What foods are fiber filled?  Whole grains like oats, barley, and pinto beans, potatoes, brussel sprouts and fruits like apples, plums and oranges are good sources of soluble fiber, whereas 100% bran cereal has more insoluble fiber.  Insoluble fiber will pass through the body unchanged.

Potassium is associated with lowering blood pressure levels.  It counters the effect of excess sodium and aids in transmitting nerve impulses and promotes normal muscle function.  Both effective for optimal heart and blood vessel health.  Foods like potatoes, bananas, dark leafy greens, pumpkin seed, avocado and almonds are high in potassium.  Potassium deficiency can lead to high blood pressure problems, hypertension, strokes, and heart irregularities.  Meat, poultry and fish are high in potassium, but it’s not healthy to eat an entirely carnivorous diet.  These foods will cause a rise in acid levels and deplete potassium levels.  Instead of supplements, try a slice of cantaloupe, a banana or strawberries. 

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that play a key role in heart health.  These are a class of polyunsaturated fats.  They cannot be manufactured by the body so must be obtained from food.  They contain molecules that will ward off blood clots that can trigger stroke and heart attacks.  Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and prevent risk factors associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis.  You can find Omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed, flaxseed oil, walnuts, soy, and baby dark leafy greens like watercress and arugula.

Low blood levels of B vitamins and folic acid have been found to increase the risk of atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attacks and stroke.  Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of the arteries.  Some sources of B vitamins are fortified breakfast cereals, sunflower seeds, potatoes, broccoli and asparagus.

Flavonoids have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties that protect you against heart disease.  They keep the lining of the arteries flexible which will promote healthy blood flow and reduce clotting.  Catechin is a flavonoid compound found in tea and cocoa and it can reduce heart disease.  It’s found in dark chocolate, green tea, red wine, extra virgin olive oil and apples.  Soy flavonoids (isoflavones) can also reduce blood cholesterol and can help to prevent osteoporis. 

Carotenoids have fat solubility and antioxidant properties.  These plant chemicals are a big factor in fighting heart disease. and give fruits and veggies their yellow, red and orange colors, not to mention the green in plants.  There is evidence they interact with bad LDL cholesterol and prevent if from oxidizing and sticking to the artery walls.  Food sources of carotenoids are carrots, spinach, kale, collard greens, red peppers and tomatoes.  However, to maximize the availability of these carotenoids in your food, they should be eaten raw or lightly steamed.

And please….don’t forget your emotional heart.  Feeling emotionally healthy is just as important.  Get in touch with your physical and emotional body.  Yoga, meditation, chi gong…all great ways to start “feeling”.  Releasing all the “baggage” will detox your blood as well as your muscles. 

Breathe, breathe and breathe again.  Keep going……

The website, publichealthadvocacy.org, states this….”Scientific evidence consistently supports the conclusion that drinking soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages increases a person’s risk of being overweight or obese. As a result, reducing the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages people drink is an important strategy to reverse the obesity epidemic in California and across the country.”   The United States is the largest soda consumer, drinking 13.15 billion gallons of carbonated drinks every year.  Drinking carbonated beverages, adolescents not only face obesity, but also are at risk for bone fractures higher than those who don’t, reduced bone mass and decreased calcium levels in the blood.  The sugar and the acid in these drinks will also dissolve tooth enamel. 

Soda, especially colas, contain caffeine and phosphoric acid.  This has a direct effect on bone mineral density.  Bone mineral density is reduced in osteoporosis.  What causes osteoporosis?  A reduction in the protein and mineral matrix of the bone.  This will cause an increase in the risk of fracture and can be easily prevented with diet and lifestyle changes.  There have been many studies of school age children (girls especially), that have concluded soda drinking was associated with decreased levels of blood calcium and increased urinary calcium, which could cause osteoporosis later in life.  These studies have also found high bone fractures in cola consuming high school girls.

Soda consumption by children and adults is one of the most harmful habits we have.  Soda is filled with empty calories.  Diet soda is not any better.  It is filled with artificial sweeteners which are more dangerous and can also lead to weight gain.  As a parent, you are role models for your kids, for their eating habits and their social skills.  According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), out of over 100 soft drinks  and beverages analyzed by the government, five contained levels of benzene.  Benzene is a cancer-causing chemical linked to leukemia. 

Researchers from UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy “discovered a strong correlation between soda consumption and weight.  Based upon data from more than 40,000 interviews conducted……researchers found that adults who drink a soda or more per day are 27 percent more likely to be overweight than those who do not drink sodas…”  As our physical activity remained the same, our intake of calories increased.  More than 43 percent of the new calories were from soda consumption.  Children are at a more alarming risk of obesity and diabetes with their soda consumption.  Soda is inexpensive, easy to obtain and children and teens are targeted in advertising.  One soda a day is too much for your child.  This drink is filling our kid’s bodies with empty calories and “filling” them up so there is no room for healthy food. 

Type 2 diabetes has also increased during the last 20 years.  Besides increasing obesity in children, the increase in obesity in adults, may also increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  This risk is greater in women.  Sugar-sweetened beverages provide excessive calories and large amounts of absorbable sugars.  Soda is empty calories.  

Water will quench your thirst much better than soda.  Water will remove toxins from the body and will aid in digestion and curb your appetite.  Eat fruits and high water content veggies and dilute your fruit drinks.  Begin a juicing routine. 

Drink healthy.

Most women deal with a state of low anxiety at all times.  This generalized anxiety can erupt into full-blown panic attacks, anxiety or phobias during times of physical or emotional stress or change, like perimenopause and menopause.  Early on, psychologists viewed anxiety as purely emotional, stating it is an outward sign of repressed negative feelings and inner conflict.  With research and time, anxiety disorders and panic attacks have been determined to have a real, physiological cause. 

Anxiety can also be related to hormonal imbalance.  I heard a song on the radio yesterday.   One of the lines was, “I’d rather feel something then nothing.”  How do I support these emotional swings especially with all the change in my own life?  It’s not easy, but I rely on my support systems; my friends, my beliefs (I don’t just believe, I know) and my strength.  Heck, if I’ve made it this far……..

Yes, there’s more to do than just medicate yourself.  Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time.  It could present itself with a thumping heart, shortness of breath, monkey mind, shaky knees and upset stomach….just to name a few symptoms.  We have our “flight or fight” response.  It’s our built in alarm system.  It is not natural to live in fear and be upset most of the time without a reasonable cause.  There are many of us who constantly live in this state of fight or flight.  This response is meant to get us through in the face of danger or high stress, but after the episode we are supposed to relax, find the down time.  However, most of us are on this constant alert.  We suffer not only constant stress, but also the physical response that accompanies it.  It is not a weakness to feel anxious or vulnerable.  We, as women, were taught from childhood, to grin and bear it!  I’m not going to tell you to suffer through it or that drugs are your only solution. 

If you feel you have severe panic attacks on a regular basis with no sign of relief, if you suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or post-traumatic stress, please consult your physician.  I have a little OCD.  I notice when I’m under high stress I start to go over the same thing in my head.  It usually has to do with time and it mostly will happen before bed, during the night or early in the morning before I get up.  This used to happen a lot to me until I started yoga and meditation and then I didn’t even realize those moments of OCD had disappeared until they started to reappear with perimenopause.  I made a conscious effort to change my life.  Anxiety disorders do run in families.  I also asked one of my brothers if he ever does this. He said, “Sure”, like it was nothing.  That proved to me, I was allowing this condition more attention than it deserved.  Anxiousness runs in my family.  It’s a learned condition. If you saw it growing up, just like other behaviors, you can unlearn it.

Generalized anxiety, as I stated above, is common.  The symptoms may not affect your ability to get through the day.  My type A behaviors, for a long time, helped me to avoid my panic and fear.  If I ran (literally) fast and long enough, I could outrun it.  The day came, eventually, when I couldn’t run away from it.  As we get older and the everyday life of children and work start to calm down, we start to “feel” more of our own thoughts.  I realized that my job wasn’t the cause of my stress.  I was just stressed! I didn’t have a job or a child to blame for my stress, there was only me and how I was relating to me.  You begin to take the time to feel, think, and speak.  I needed to start slowing down even though it was uncomfortable to do so.  I’m still working on beating myself up for past mistakes and the fact that I do not know what I am going to do next.

Begin to evaluate your stress symptoms.  Irrational fear, muscle tension or headache, chest pain, nausea, sleeplessness, tearing up, depression or a general feeling of dread, are all symptoms of anxiety or stress.  When do these symptoms become severe?  If these symptoms don’t go away or if they come at seemingly “normal” times, it’s time to seek help.  Anxiety symptoms can lead to, or be caused by, adrenal fatigue and unhealthy food.  Caffeine-laden drinks can raise your dopamine levels, and can bring on panic attacks.  It can also be caused by past childhood trauma.  As children, we simply cannot process everything that happens to us.  As adults, we learn to cope, but sometimes not deal with, what happened in our past.  If you feel you cannot cope, please seek help.  You must be willing to approach stress, anxiety and depression from many angles.  Your healing has the possibility of healing others.

I read these words from “Anonymous” recently:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

Let it go…..let it be.

My menstrual cycle started changing about a year ago.  Longer, shorter, heavier, lighter….all of the above.  I knew it was perimenopause and I wasn’t concerned until I started experiencing symptoms that would affect my daily life.  Most of the symptoms were manageable.  Some symptoms, like burning tongue, were diagnosed by my dental hygenist.  Night sweats, though intense enough to have to get up and change my clothes in the middle of the night, didn’t interfere with my life.  My fatigue was enough to cause me to start taking an afternoon nap.  I work nights, so that didn’t interfere with my day either.  You’d be surprised how much a cat nap could help.  And though we’re told if you move more you won’t feel as tired, that wasn’t so for me.  I walk or practice yoga every day and I was still tired around 3 in the afternoon.  So I worked a snooze into most of my days. 

However, fatigue could also be adrenal fatigue or low level DHEA. DHEA is a natural steroid produced by the adrenals. The adrenals are small organs right above the kidneys.  We make about 25 mg of DHEA per day (men more than women), but our production dwindles as we get older.  This is what nature intended for us.  Your adrenals make cortisol and adrenaline and also balance over 50 hormones in the body.  The hormone cortisol affects other regulatory processes such as: blood pressure, blood sugar levels, your immune and inflammatory response and influencing mood, memory and thought clarity.  If your adrenals are exhausted from stress (emotional and physical), poor nutrition, and crazy dieting, they are pumping out more cortisol and can’t manufacture enough DHEA to support a healthy hormonal balance.  This will result in your exhaustion, depression and that feeling of being overwhelmed.  So, if you are under more than average stress, your body will not have enough working material for proper endocrine function.  There is some evidence that healthy DHEA levels may help with Alzheimer’s, cancer, osteoporosis, depression, heart disease and obesity. 

So that could be why my blood pressure has been so low these last couple of weeks!  OK, so I guess I’m going through all of the above stressors.  I do know that when I eat 100% raw food I feel better.  I have been traveling a lot lately, and if I am not happy where I am, for example, with people that do not support my lifestyle, I simply do not feel well.  Is taking a DHEA supplement the answer?  It could be an important factor, but include it with lifestyle changes also.  There’s a lot out there about DHEA levels and supplements.  If you are concerned about your levels, have a medical test done.  Taking a supplement alone won’t help you if your adrenals are exhausted.  Your body will produce more or less depending on nutrient support, metabolism, hormone balance, activity level and your emotional state.  Also maintain a healthy body mass index, get adequate rest, expose yourself to some sunlight, exercise, and create more “downtime” in your life. 

What else can you do to support this “aging” thing?  Ayurvedic medicine says the adrenal gland is connected to the root chakra.  The root chakra is about groundedness, our nourishment, and our physical health.  When stress enters full force, we can become less grounded.  That sure explains even more about my aches and pains.  As most of you know I recently closed my business and moved.  However, I am not living anywhere yet.  I have been traveling around visiting family and friends and still haven’t decided on where I want to live.  Yep, that would be ungrounded!  Guess I’ll start doing some yoga grounding poses today! 

Eating a gluten-free diet can relieve the strain of your adrenal glands.  Low blood sugar will put stress on your body and strain your adrenal glands too.  Time your meals so that you aren’t going long periods of time without food.  Adrenals will work harder on an empty stomach, requiring them to release more cortisol to keep you functioning normally.  Living foods will allow the body to absorb more nutrients.  You will find yourself craving sugar and caffeine if your cortisol levels are low or you are tired.  Drinks that will restore your adrenal glands are: chamomile, passionflower and valerian teas, and vegetable juices.  Alcohol, caffeine and gatorade can drain the adrenals.  Honor your body.  Try to take the time to feel if you are actually hungry or if you are eating to fill another need.  I know when I am eating and not actually tasting anything.  With my burning tongue symptom, my taste buds are a little off.  So I think my mind tells me to eat more because my mouth can’t taste anything!  It’s all about balance.  I have good days and not so good days.  I honor them both. 

I’ll talk next time about more symptoms of our changing bodies.

As always, please see your health care practitioner for symptoms that concern you.  The suggestion here are informational only.

I’ve read that even if you believe the so-called vaccine will work, it would take vaccinating 200,000 people to prevent the death of just one person from swine flu.  And if that many people were vaccinated, chances are there would be death or harm from the side effects.  In addition, this vaccine has never been subjected to any long-term testing.  I’m writing this blog to make you aware of some things you can do now to boost your health, not just during flu season.  I do believe in washing your hands.  I do believe in (actually I’m a little anal about) the anti-bacterial hand sanitizers.  There is a natural hand sanitizer named Hand Sanz, available in health food stores.  It kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria without chemicals.  It can be used anywhere without water.  I’m not a hand shaker during this season and yes, I use the wipes when I go to the grocery store and wipe my cart.  Again, to me, that’s just common sense.  And no, I won’t be getting the swine flu vaccine and I’m hoping my daughter isn’t forced into one either.  I’ve never gotten any flu vaccine. 

So what can you do or not do?  Donald Miller, MD, says “Seventy percent of doctors do not get a flu shot.”  According to Cochrane Database Syst. “There is also a lack of evidence that young children benefit from flu shots.  A systematic review of 51 studies involving 260,000 children age 6 to 23 months found no evidence that the flu vaccine is any more effective than a placebo.”  Flu shots contain mercury (a neurotoxin), formaldehyde (known cancer-causing agent), aluminum (may cause Alzheimer’s), and other additives known to be toxic.  Vitamin D deficiency is likely one cause of flu, pneumonia and cardiovascular disease. 

Msn.com states “Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine.  Antibiotics cure disease by killing or injuring bacteria.”   When one type of bacteria flourishes it causes an imbalance.  This imbalance can occur from taking a course of antibiotic medication, which will attack the good bacteria in your intestines as well as the bad.  Yogurt (dairy or soy or rice), has good bacteria.  Many yogurts are supplemented with additional probiotics that are associated with health benefits.  A daily dose of yogurt can help with resulting stomach issues.  Yogurt is also good for those suffering from digestive problems such as irritable bowel, gas and bloating.  Yogurt is a great source of calcium, protein and vitamins.  I use soy yogurt and avoid the presweetened and flavored varieties, which have added sugars and are higher in calories.  You can add fresh fruit or granola to sweeten it up naturally or add to your favorite smoothie.  Probiotics are not tested or regulated by the FDA but are recognized as safe.  Avoid anything with bacillus or enterococci on the label.  Keeping a healthy bacteria environment in your body is a great start in overall health and avoiding colds and flus too. 

Keep up with your vitamin C intake and stay well rested.  I also like Airborne.  I usually take it at night if I’m feeling exhausted and like I’m starting to come down with something.  Eat more raw food.  Enzymes in raw food will benefit you in more ways than you can imagine.  Yesterday I woke up with a horrible headache.  I’ve never had a migraine, but this headache was horrible.  It lasted through the day and I started feeling very achy in the evening.  I went to bed and wondered what was happening?  I immediately did some EFT(Emotional Freedom Techniques) and felt better immediately!  Remember, you are in charge of your health. 

Stay healthy. Think healthy.  Eat healthy. 

These statements are informational only.  They are my opinions alone based on what I have been reading   online and in the news.  The information contained here is only meant to keep you informed of your options.  Please make your own decision.

Monosodium glutamate, according to Wikipedia, (also known as MSG and sodium glutamate), “is a sodium salt of the non-essential amino acid glutamic acid.  It is used as a food additive and is commonly marketed as a flavour enhancer.”  Ingesting this processed free glutamic acid (MSG), can produce a variety of reactions in many people.  Some people have no immediate reactions to this enhancer, but does that mean it is not affecting them?  These reactions can also be found as side effects from neurological drugs.  It could be that MSG causes the reaction or aggravates an already existing condition. 

Some symptoms you may experience after ingesting MSG can involve these areas: cardiac, neurological, respiratory, circulatory, gastrointestinal, urological, muscular, visual and skin problems.  Everything from nausea to tongue swelling to retinal degeneration(for me, it’s headaches and stomach cramps).  Other symptoms are, irregular heart beat, depression, bloating, colitis, sleep disorders, blurred vision, fatigue, chills, slowed speech, post nasal drip, skin rash, extreme thirst, and difficulty concentrating.  Many studies have linked MSG to diabetes, migraines, autism, ADHD, and even Alzheimer’s.  There is research confirming that MSG consumed by lab animals causes brain lesions.  Any research claiming MSG to be safe is flawed and has been financed, directly or indirectly, by the glutamate industry.  Isn’t that always the way?  Some disorders may have started from being exposed to MSG as an infant or in the womb. 

Here are some ways MSG is hidden in the foods we eat.  These are names of ingredients that contain MSG and will cause the same reactions in those sensitive to MSG:  Glutamate, gelatin, textured protein, yeast nutrient, hydrolyzed corn gluten, yeast extract, autolyzed yeast and any protein that is hydrolyzed.  Here’s something I didn’t know….the following ingredients often contain MSG or create MSG during processing:  carrageenan, maltodextrin, malt extract, citric acid, pectin, soy protein, whey protein, flavorings, natural chicken flavor and many others.  According to truthinlabeling.com, “the not so new game is to label hydrolyzed proteins as pea protein, whey protein, corn protein, etc. If a pea, for example, were whole, it would be indentified as a pea. Calling an ingredient pea protein indicates that the pea has been hydrolyzed, at least in part, and that processed free glutamic acid (MSG) is present”. 

In hundreds of studies around the world, scientist created obese mice and rats by injecting them with MSG.  MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing them to become obese.  Is it possible MSG is also causing obesity in humans?  MSG is in everything including soups, salad dressings, processed foods, gravies and those labeled as “healthy or low fat”.  Not only do we buy foods containing MSG, but many restaurants use MSG, especially fast food places.  MSG is added to our food because it is addictive.  This preservative is added so we will eat more!  Could MSG be the new nicotine?  Many are asking this question.

MSG was introduced over fifty years ago.  Since then it has been added to prepackaged meals, soups, snacks and many of the fast foods that we eat every day.  The FDA has set no limits on how much MSG can be added to food. Mainly because they believe it is safe to consume.

How can you start eliminating this toxic ingredient?  First of all, go to your cupboard and refrigerator and start reading your labels.  Purchase organic or start your own vegetable garden.  Eat fiber rich foods and other foods which are detoxing.  Flush toxins already in your system with a liver cleanse.  Take out coffee, alcohol and cigarettes.  These highly toxic products will not allow your body to heal. 

Take care of yourself and your children.  Take the time to do it.