Natural health

How You Can Help Stop Antibiotic Resistance

2012-01-23T16:51:00.000-06:00

Antibiotics are some of modern medicine's better inventions right up there with other trauma medicine such as setting bones. Penicillin was the first antibiotic invented by Alexander Fleming in 1928 that went on to be used to treat injured soldiers in WW2 and other bacterial infections at the time like staph. Unfortunately, these miraculous saviors of modern medicine are being so overused in both hospitals and agriculture that previously controlled bacterial infections are being turned into resistant "superbugs". The increasing occurrence of these superbugs like MRSA, UTI, C. difficile, pneumonia, gonorrhea, malaria, and tuberculosis can all be linked to their resistance to antibiotics. In most first world countries we don't have to worry about the last three, but MRSA has emerged as a serious threat in recent years.

But why is antibiotic resistance happening to begin with? People misusing the antibiotic drugs prescribed to them by not finishing the dose, improperly prescribed drugs (viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics!), some bacteria survives despite antibiotic treatment, overuse in both medicine and agriculture, lack of good bacteria (our modern world is way too sterile), poor prevention of bacterial infection, and trace antibiotics being leeched into bodies of water where it seeps into our soil and drinking water (then we drink the antibiotics in there or they got onto our produce).

So what can we do about the emerging antibiotic resistance? Are there any natural or alternative therapies that can help alleviate this serious problem? Now I'm not necessarily advocating that you try to self-treat yourself for a serious infection by using alternative practices, but perhaps theres a way to prevent an infection in the first place or not to confuse a virus for a bacteria. Thankfully, there are ways to treat a bacterial infection and even prevent one in the first place by utilizing some of the below therapies and practices:

Always wash your hands. Yes, prevention can be that simple.
However, you want to avoid anti-bacterial soap as it can kill off the good bacteria making room for the bad bacteria to take over. You need both good and bad bacteria in your body to keep a balance
Antibacterial soap contains the polluting and endocrine-disrupting chemical called triclosan along with contributing to antibiotic resistance. A good alternative, natural soap is vinegar mixed with essential oils like lemon, castille oil, alcohol, or lye or coconut soap bar.
When cleaning around your house or anywhere else don't use antibacterials either. Use one of the above natural cleaners. An overly sterile environment can create an imbalance of good and bad bacteria allowing the bad to colonize when the good is unintentionally wiped out.
Buy grass-fed meat from small, organic, and pasture-based farms so you won't be consuming the antibiotics present in typical factory farm meat. In fact, the agricultural use of antibiotics is one of the biggest contributors to the problem of resistance with 70% antibiotics used in factory farming. Animals on factory farms are raised in cramped, dirt conditions that make them susceptible to disease, which is combated by feeding them a study diet of antibiotics, but this only covers up the symptoms of a larger problem. These animals are being raised in unnatural conditions and diet that make them ill. And thats where much of our food-borne illnesses originate. Instead of trying to cover-up the symptoms of this problem by feeding the animals antibiotics we should allow them to be raised on pasture.
Antibiotics do not treat viruses! A bacterial infection is not a virus! If you have a virus such as flu or common cold then try to supplement with vitamin D, drink tea, get some rest, and eat your grass-fed broth.
Essential oils that have anti-bacterial properties are rosemary, thyme, tea tree, mint, oregano, clove, and cinnamon.
Herbs to help treat bacterial infection are goldenseal, eucalyptus, garlic, bayberry, myrrh, and turmeric.

Why Not Avoid Processed Cereal Altogether If You Have Peanut Butter Allergies?

2012-01-17T10:41:00.001-06:00

Recently, theres been a new peanut butter flavor released by Cheerios. However, parents of allergenic kids are afraid the new peanut butter flavor may cause severe allergic reactions in some kids. Some of the parents are even saying their going to stop buying the popular cereal brand altogether in order to avoid confusion with other flavors or cross-contamination.

But these parents are entirely missing the point. If you or anyone you know has an allergy to peanut butter (or anything for that matter) then why not avoid processed cereal altogether? Allergies are a hypersensitive response by the immune system to any kind of outside substance such as can be found in the environment or food. Often this sensitive reaction is due to a damaged gut that doesn't allow foods to be properly digested and so the immune system reacts to the undigested food sitting around in the gut or leaking into the bloodstream. These food reactions may show up immediately or a couple of days later so your never entirely sure what your reacting to. What damages the gut lining thats supposed to digest your food? Processed food laden with additive chemicals of every type. So why not get processed cereal totally out of your diet? Then your gut may get a chance to heal if you stop consuming these toxic foods that are too difficult for the gut to digest properly.

Instead have an egg with butter melted on top for breakfast along with a nice glass of water.

Polio: Virus,Toxin, or Both?

2012-01-12T14:14:00.002-06:00

In a recent internet foray I discovered a site that put out the idea that perhaps the polio epidemics of the 1950s and 1960s were not caused or partly caused by a virus. Real science is about open and honest inquiry without setting the conclusion before the hypothesis so I decided to research this idea further.

Virus

The 1950s is the most remembered time period for the polio epidemics, however the paralytic form of polio was rare. Though the polio virus has been around for a long time it seemed to become more virulent in the above period. Most people experience no symptoms upon getting a polio virus though it can include symptoms similar to a flu virus. Only about 8% or less cases experience symptoms with the severe and paralyzing form being found in 1% of cases. People with the non-paralytic form can recover, but the more severe form can result in paralysis or death. Usually paralytic polio virus enters into the bloodstream from the intestinal tract and upon arriving in the bloodstream it begins attacking nerves. Supposedly this contagious viral disease was spread by improper sanitation and contaminated water. The polio vaccine came about in 1964, but this same vaccine actually led to paralytic polio in some people even if they weren't immunized. However, the diagnostic criteria for polio seemed to change a few times during the epidemic years from the assumption that paralysis along with flu-like symptoms were an indication of polio. But the Salk vaccine trials ended up creating a larger diagnostic criteria for polio leading to higher diagnoses from 1955 to 1957. Even after many people had been vaccinated their continued to be polio cases in these same vaccinated populations. In fact, it was discovered that many so called polio cases had been misdiagnosed and this caused the higher statistics leading conventional medicine to say that it "eradicated polio with vaccination."

Toxin

Now this is the other side to the story where things get very interesting and one can't help but wonder. It continues to amaze me how so-called scientific medicine eagerly jumps to conclusions without considering other possibilities in their desperation to quell the fears of the sheeple. It's known that certain toxic heavy metals such as mercury, arsen, and lead can lead to symptoms in humans such as paralysis (temporary or permanent), tingling or numbness in limbs, tremors, headaches, pain, metal confusion, fatigue, allergies, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and reduced reflexes. These are a lot of symptoms that can be seen in many different conditions so it may be easy to understand how someone with metal toxicity could be misdiagnosed with a viral infection that displays the same symptoms. In fact, throughout history mercury has been used as a medicine and found in the environment and displayed polio-like symptoms in people including the terrible paralysis. But it doesn't stop at metal poisoning. The pesticide called DDT was first used in the United States in 1942 and in 1950 a similarity is noticed between polio and the potent organophosphate poisoning. The symptoms of DDT poisoning, which was in wide use by the 1950s, were severe limb pain, muscle weakness, and eventual paralysis. This pesticide was sprayed heavily on fields and around contaminated water to get rid of mosquitoes. Rural people would spray it around their water wells to rid the area of potential disease-carrying mosquitos without ever knowing or considering that the DDT was actually causing the polio-like symptoms. The incidence of polio went up at the same time as DDT usage did from the years 1945 to 1953. But at the time it was banned the toxic pesticide was only considered dangerous to the environment by thinning eagle eggshells, not humans. Another pesticide called benzene hexachloride (BHC), which is even more toxic than DDT, and was used throughout the time period of 1945 to 1954. And the polio rate went up right along with BHC until 1963.

Both

Well, maybe it was both polio virus and metal and pesticide toxins during the time period of the epidemics that contributed to the illness and death rates from diagnosed "polio" cases. Another question might be: Can a virus and a toxin interact? Many other diseases under the umbrella of Acute Flaccid Paralysis resemble polio such as Guillaine-Barre syndrome, Acute transverse myelitis, Lyme borreliosis, and toxic myopathies. So what causes these diseases and are they related to polio? Perhaps the above diseases are also caused by exposure to toxins whether from heavy metals or pesticides. Its also known that toxins can result in inflammation and possibly inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's. And vaccines can cause inflammation, too, leading to an either temporary or long-term autoimmune response. These are all questions we must ask ourselves and ask that the scientific establishment look into. Then may we get to the bottom of the true causes of "viral" epidemics and diseases along with a real assessment of vaccine efficiency and safety.

Elevated Glucose Levels and Heart Disease

2012-01-11T14:17:00.000-06:00

Recently, in a favorite health magazine of mine there was a particularly informative and good article on the dangers of elevated glucose levels. Now these glucose spikes occur after eating a meal high in carbohydrates, but the glucose spike isn't just temporary as it may stay elevated hours after the meal is over. Whats truly of interest to me is that the risk of heart disease increases in these after-meal glucose spikes even if the blood glucose level only increases by 21 mg. There may even by a risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 26% in a glucose spike after eating. Conventional medicine considers anything below 125 mg a normal glucose level, but in reality this may still be too high and lead to diabetic complications. The damage to tissues can occur even when its below that number so theres a possibility that we could all be pre-diabetic and this may be another factor behind the epidemic of chronic disease. We should not just rely on fasting glucose levels!

So high blood sugar levels are connected to cardiovascular disease instead of the maligned saturated fats? of course, its long been known that diabetes and heart disease are linked, but why exactly is this? If disease in the human body is a manifestation of deeper problems such as malnutrition, toxins, and emotional distress then is heart disease caused by diabetes or are they both caused by the same problem? We know already that sugar and carbohydrate heavy diets tend to leech minerals from the body and include trans fatty acids from vegetable oil (the true heart killers). So really when you think about it's no surprise that both diseases are dietary-related. And as we know from the WAPF traditional societies were free of diabetes and heart disease and they did not consume refined sugary foods or vegetable oil. Once again traditional diets that were consumed for thousands of years are validated. Stay away from sugar and carb heavy diets to avoid both of the modern disease epidemics of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Stretch Your Real Food Budget

2012-01-10T18:17:00.000-06:00

In order for me to actually afford to buy healthy food I often need to take simple steps to stretch my real food budget. And with nearly 40 million Americans now on food stamps I know many of you are having this problem as well. However, its entirely possible to afford good, real food even if money is tight (or really really tight).

Don't buy processed, convenience foods. Healthy wholesome foods should always be a priority over processed junk thats loaded with preservatives, chemicals, artificial colors, and other nasties. If you can't afford a head of lettuce then you may want to put those oreo cookies back on the shelf. Where I live a box of processed crackers cost nearly $4 while a healthy pack of beans or butter cost nearly the same or less.

Water your broth down. Okay, in order to fight off those sugar cravings so you don't end up "splurging" on processed sugary foods at the store its essential to consume healthy animal-based fats. Unfortunately, these are the same foods that are most expensive so you may find it helpful to buy chicken broth and water it down. I usually put two cups of broth in the crock pot then water the rest down until it's at least half way full.

You don't need to buy everything organic or "natural". In fact, you may find that some natural and even organic products are a rip-off as they aren't really natural at all or don't use that many pesticides to grow them to begin with. Potatoes and watermelons are good examples of produce that due to their thick skin are not susceptible to pests to begin with and so don't require a lot of pesticides. Rice, beans, and lentils also don't need to be bought organic. Where I live organic cream cheese cost only 40 cents more than non-organic so always do a price compare before buying.

Always stretch food supplies out either by buying bulk or using leftovers. At the health food store I can buy a large container of yeast to make my weekly bread for $2 while using the bread for many other purposes. Make crouton snacks out of the bread or use the crumbs in meatloaf.

Beat off sugar cravings to stop the urge to buy sugar-laden processed foods. Its cheaper to spend $5 on a pack of organic butter to stabilize your blood sugar levels and stop you from craving sugar then to keep buying junk food throughout the week. I always had to learn this lesson the hard way when I use to work a retail job that required me to be away from home for many hours. I'd spend a lot of money each week on eating out instead of fixing cheap, wholesome meals at home.

How To Improve Your Concentration

2012-01-08T17:59:00.000-06:00

I confess that for many years I've had trouble concentrating at different times and on various tasks. And I'm sure many other people are having this problem as well because we all live in a fast-paced, noisy world where there seems to always be a million things going on at the same time. Its especially noticeable if your trying to complete a job or project that your not particularly interested in. Modern medicine tries to label anyone who struggles with poor concentration as having ADD and writes them a prescription without ever addressing the root cause of their patient's lack of focus. Below are some of the things that can contribute to this problem so prevalent in our "civilized" western world:

Being forced to do a job or task you don't particularly enjoy
Overwork
Lack of oxygen to the brain
Lack of sleep and fatigue
Drug addiction
White sugar, artificial sugar, and many other types of sugar
Stress, pain, or any type of stiffness in the body or illness
Malnutrition
Stress

So how do we improve the above conditions to get our concentration back (and even if we're not experiencing any of the above conditions)? One of the tenets of holistic health is that everything is connected in regard to the human body so if you have one health issue then you probably have another. Many of the above issues can be traced back to dietary, environmental, and emotional causes. A deficiency in cholesterol could cause the adrenaline hormones to wear out leading to high stress responses when the "fight-or-flight" response is kicked on. An all too common occurrence in our modern world. So we can improve our concentration by:

Herbs: Ginseng, mint (peppermint, spearmint), ylang-ylang, rosemary, lavender
Aromatherapy: peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus
Black tea and the L-Theanine in both green and white tea
Avoid sugar especially white refined sugar or artificial sugar like aspartame, which is a neurotoxin and damages the ability of neurotransmitters to function properly
Exercise daily to improve oxygen circulation to the brain
Even conventional medicine now admits that meditation is excellent for improving your concentration both in the long-term and short-term
Consume lots of healthy fats like omega-3s that are found in fish and the saturated fats found in butter. Omega-3s are necessary for healthy brain function and can even be helpful for improving your emotional state
Amino acids: L-orthithine, L-arginine, and trypto phan. The last two amino acids can be found in many raw dairy products like cheese, eggs, and milk.
Vitamins: all the vitamin B complex and vitamin C
Avoid the use of household chemicals and potential metal toxins (like lead, mercury, and aluminum) as these can cross the blood-brain barrier and damage functioning. These metal toxins can also damage the body's ability to utilize minerals.

The Real Culprit Behind Hormonal Imbalance

2012-01-01T16:23:00.000-06:00

You've probably heard before that consuming cholesterol-rich foods like butter cause health problems such as high cholesterol levels that build up in the blood leading to blocked arteries (called LDL cholesterol). However, what these mainstream medical reports fail to mention is that trans fatty acids from hydrogenated vegetable oil is the real culprit behind high cholesterol levels. The arterial plague in arteries is found to be composed of unsaturated fatty acids not saturated fat or cholesterol. In fact, the entire "cholesterol and saturated fat leads to heart disease" is a hoax!

Cholesterol is vital to maintaining good health because it plays an important role in many bodily function such as hormones and blood sugar regulation. Cholesterol is the precursor to the hormone called pregnenolone, which acts as a precursor to all the steroid hormones. Other hormones include progesterone, which acts on the menstrual cycle, and the aldosterone, which is the principle hormone for regulating blood pressure, fluid balance and mineral balance. The sex hormones in both females and males are regulated by cholesterol, too. Now you may understand how a deficiency in cholesterol could contribute to a hormonal imbalance!

Though hormonal imbalances are not the only result of the Standard American Diet of processed sugary foods laden with hydrogenated vegetable oil. These same hormones help in the functioning of many other processes in the body such as the adrenal glands, which experience insufficiency when cortisol levels become too low and can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome even. The adrenal glands deal with our "fight or flight" response to stress so its easy to see how we can become deficient in our hectic modern world. To maintain a proper balance we need to consume cholesterol-rich foods.

So what foods contain the most cholesterol for proper hormone functioning? Basically all the foods the Big Food and Big Pharma paid dietitians say not to eat! Butter, animal fat, cream cheese, raw milk, yogurt, and grass-fed meat like beef are all good sources for this important substance.

2011 Top Ten Foods For Health

2011-12-31T16:39:00.000-06:00

To celebrate the new year I decided to post about the top ten foods for health that you can easily and cheaply buy at the store or grow in your own garden. Afterall, whats the point of a "superfood" if its impossible to obtain? When I say "superfood" I don't necessarily mean only those fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants or high amounts of nutrients, but also include meat and dairy products. Many of these are foods that I buy and consume on a regular basis as well (and I'm not financially rich by any means).

1. Apple. Okay, this fruit is so common and simple that it's easily overlooked when thinking of healthy foods. However, the apple contains fiber, vitamin C (which can't be obtained from animal-based foods), and can give you that glucose boost when on a low-carb diet. It also includes minerals such as phosphorus and potassium along with high amounts of antioxidant polyphenols like phloretin glycosides and flavonoids.

2. Celtic Sea Salt. Unlike refined salt thats completely stripped of all it's naturally-occurring minerals, celtic sea salt is harvested from some of the most pristine coastal areas in the world. Not only does it contain sodium, which is necessary for proper bodily fluid function, but it also contains magnesium, calcium, potassium, selenium, copper, zinc, and manganese.

3. Rosemary. This delicious herb is best cooked in soups, meat, or breads, but it can be consumed raw for an extra tangy taste to dishes. It also adds some variety to your regular kitchen herbs like parsley. The rosmarinic acid in rosemary acts as an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory properties are due to the compound called cineole.

4. Kale. Always a good choice when your short on time or simply want a simple salad. Though raw plant foods don't contain concentrated nutrients like animal-based foods they are still a good source of minerals and water-soluble vitamins like C and K. Kale contains vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.

5. Vinegar. This versatile "food" item can be used in a huge range of things from healing to cooking to cleaning. I typically use my vinegar as a salad dressing, soups, sprouting, hand washing, and when making kombucha or any kind of fermented food. The acetic acid in vinegar is a major component of the fermentation process, which holds many benefits for human health such as balancing gut flora, killing pathogens, lowering glucose levels, and detoxing.

6. Raw cheese. Few foods beat pasture-raised raw milk cheese for high nutrient content and affordability (in comparison to other dairy and meat products). My favorite cheeses are white cheddar and colby, which I often obtain from a local farm or the health food store. Some of the nutrients in white cheddar cheese are vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin K, folate, choline, calcium, potassium, and selenium.

7. Chicken stock. This food derived from the bones of pasture-raised chickens boiled in a crock pot are a rich source of cheap nutrients and minerals. Vital for maintaining proper health in the immune and digestive system you can make enough chicken broth to last two weeks from just a small chicken. Nutrients like calcium, magnesium, gelatin, collagen, and glycine can all be found in your home-made chicken stock.

8. Cream cheese. As I mentioned above, I'm not rich so when I can't afford the deliciously, nutritious organic butter I buy organic cream cheese instead. And just like butter it also contains cholesterol, which is actually good for your health and helps to maintain hormone balance and vitamin D synthesis.

9. Honey. Okay, I know its still a sugar and contains glucose, which can be harmful in high amounts, but honey still makes a great natural sweetener. At least its not highly refined like high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup, which contributes to weight gain and a plethora of other health issues. Few things taste better than honey spread on my home-made wheat bread in the morning or as a snack.

10. Flax seeds. Flax seeds are cheap to get at your local health food store at about $2 a bag. And there an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids (though not the same kind found in fish oil), manganese, vitamin B1, fiber, copper, and tryptophan. Their wonderfully nutty flavor goes good with spelt bread or in salads.

And there you have the top ten foods for health for the year 2011. Have a great New Year!

The Importance Of Minerals To Health

2011-12-27T15:59:00.000-06:00

Minerals are inorganic compounds that occur naturally within the soil and are vital to human health. However, conventional medicine still underestimates the dangers of mineral deficiencies in the body. Many of these same minerals are necessary for proper plant growth, too. Minerals are so important to our health because they activate many enzyme reactions and are not made in the body so they must be obtained from plants grown in soils where the minerals are present. Enzymes are a type of organic substances in the body that act like catalysts that control chemical reactions and are absolutely necessary to controlling metabolism, energy production, and digestion, etc. The first type of minerals called macro-minerals are oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon that function in making tissues and biochemicals. The other kind of minerals called trace minerals are needed daily in small amounts from plants grown in soils where there present such as magnesium, zinc, selenium, calcium, and chromium.

Magnesium is required in the synthesis of carbs, lipids, and some antioxidants and cell signaling. Signs of deficiency can be inflammation, fatigue, weakness, heart problems, and digestive issues. Its been shown that magnesium may help reduce glucose levels in Type 2 Diabetics.

Selenium acts as catalyst for a type of selenium-dependent enzyme called selenoproteins that plays a role in the amino acid sequence. Plants don't really use selenium, but it can be found in their sulfur compound. This mineral functions as a antioxidant, anti-tumor, and immune protector. Selenium along with some nutrients may prevent recurrent viral infections.

Molybdenum is another important mineral that help process carbon and nitrogen both in the human body and environment. Signs of deficiency are rare but they may include rapid heart rates and night blindness.

Iodine is absolutely necessary to proper thyroid function and a deficiency of it can lead to impaired mental function and goiter.

Zinc plays a role nearly a hundred different enzymes that carry out activities like metabolism, neurological function, and immunity. Some signs of deficiency are impaired growth, skin issues, impaired immune and healing, and behavioral issues. A zinc deficiency may further the complications of some chronic diseases.

As you can see minerals are important to maintaining good health, but where are we to find them? Thankfully, theres many food sources that contain these vital inorganic substances.

Meat stock: broth made from the simmered bones of chicken, duck, and beef.

Plants grown in soils where trace minerals are present such as organic or biodynamic farming that recycles soil without stripping it away, which often leads to nutrient depletion of the soil.

Iodine can be found in small amounts in sea salt as the ocean contains most of the world's iodine, though kelp granules (or sea vegetables) are an even better source.

Herbs grown in soil containing plentiful minerals such as parsley, chives, sage, basil, fennel, and cilantro.

Consume grass-fed meat from animals raised on mineral-rich plants.

How Not To Over Eat During The Holidays ( and Crouton Recipe)

2011-12-24T16:12:00.000-06:00

Its that time of the year again when lights and ribbons adorn evergreen trees and house awnings alike. And the table is set with traditional holiday food such as duck, meatloaf, rolls, and deserts. Those cookies and cakes topped with artificially-colored icing can be very tempting to eat. However, we should still avoid processed and artificial foods even during the holiday season. But whats the best way not to over eat during this holiday season?

Consume lots of healthy animal-based fats, which can be found in butter, meat stock, and grass-fed meat. Healthy fats keep the sugar cravings under control by keeping blood sugar levels stable and reducing carbohydrate intake.

Try to avoid places or events where you know a lot of food will be served (especially if its SAD food). Well, you might be thinking that this misses the whole point of the holiday spirit, but it may be possible to stay home or find another event.

Consume lots of mineral-rich organic vegetables like celery, asparagus, broccoli, carrots, and kale. Sometimes over eating and sugar or salt cravings can indicate mineral deficiencies.

Over-indulging on sugar and carbohydrates may also be a sign of an imbalance of good bacteria in the gut so you may want to try some probiotics or yogurt.

Herbs such as cilantro, rosemary, basil, kudzu, aloe vera, and mint can help stop the urge to over eat.

So put away the cookies and cakes and indulge in some grass-fed meat and sprouted bread. I hope everyone has a great holiday! Time for my special crouton recipe, which is good for fresh salads and as a snack:

Two slices of whole wheat spelt bread
One teaspoon each of parsley, garlic, oregano, basil, rosemary
1/3 cup of real butter

Now slice the bread into something resembling squares first then roll them around in a bowl filled with all the herbs listed above. Then cover them in butter and lay out on a cooking tray to put in the oven. Set the oven at least 350 degrees. In 10 minutes or so it should be ready to eat.

Keeping Alkalinized With Ionized Water

2011-12-18T10:18:00.000-06:00

A few days ago I attended a presentation on ionized water at a small, local farm in my area. The subject of water's pH and quality is very interesting as it has so much to do with our health. And really this makes sense when you consider that all life on Earth including ourselves is partly made up of water and required by all cells to continue functioning properly. But did you ever consider the importance of the pH of your water? And I don't just mean water thats free of contaminates though thats an important topic for a later post.

Ionized water contains a negative and positive charge that interact to form alkaline pH and contain many necessary minerals that keep you mineralized. An alkaline water (negative pH) helps maintain the natural pH balance of 7, which is the best for detoxification and allowing oxygen to get into cells. Without alkalinized water too much acidic waste matter may build up in the body leading to joint issues, skin problems, inflammation, and cancer even. By allowing oxygen to circulate through the cells as its supposed to there protected from free radical damage. Minerals like magnesium, calcium, sulphur, and dozens of other trace minerals are much easier to obtain from ionized water, too.

Most of the research on ionized water (or alkaline water or reduced water) has been done in Asia especially Japan where preventative medicine has long been the norm instead of western medicine's "covering up the symptoms when they appear" approach. The research from these countries has shown that alkaline water gets rid of free radicals and even protects DNA. And it may also enhance the antioxidant abilities of other foods while acting like a kind of antioxidant itself.

Future Water Foundation

Managing and Preventing Diabetes Naturally

2011-12-06T13:19:00.001-06:00

Diabetes affects nearly 23 million people in the United States today. And this number is likely to continue going up as more people are diagnosed every year. I'm writing this post because I know theres many people out there living with this condition and that it runs in my own family so I may be at risk of getting it someday. However, I don't just want to write about ways to manage diabetes, but to actually prevent it to begin with. Prevention is better than the cure, as they say. Of course, you should always speak to a doctor concerning your diabetes and any alternative therapies you use.

Diabetes type 2 is a metabolic disorder that happens when too much glucose is secreted by the pancreas or in some cases not enough glucose is released. Glucose is a simple sugar needed by all living things for energy and can easily be found in carbohydrates and natural sweeteners (like honey), however, too much glucose in the bloodstream can result in complications such as stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, blindness, infection, inflammation, and amputation. One of the tenants of holistic health is that a health problem does not affect just one organ or area of the body, but affects your overall wellbeing. The inflammation that many diabetics experience along with high blood sugar levels is often a sign of other underlying medical problems such as autoimmune disease. Type 1 Diabetes is somewhat different from type 2 because its an autoimmune disease in which your immune system destroys the pancreas cells that produce insulin. Type 1 diabetics must take insulin for the rest of their lives as the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin to fuel the body. Most of the prevention and treatments below are for type 2 diabetes only.

A grain-free diet is probably one of the best ways to manage and prevent diabetes in the first place. Why grain-free? Grains, both processed and home-produced, are major sources of sugar in the American Standard Diet. Removing grains from the diet makes it easy to stick to a low-carbohydrate diet full of healthier foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and meat stock.

The GAPS diet protocol eliminates grains entirely while also taking out potential food allergens. Food allergies are a sign of inflammation, which in turn mean the immune system may not be functioning very well due to a condition called gut dybiosis. Over time this condition can lead to more serious autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Add lots of healthy animal-based fats like butter and raw milk to your diet. No, saturated fat will not blow up your heart. The real proteins in animal and dairy products is critical to proper structural functioning, development, stabilizing hormones and moods, and building amino acids in the human body.

Engage in at least thirty minutes of physical activity everyday or simply do something that requires physical exertion. Exercise is the best way to burn off glucose.

Supplement with L-carnitine, which is a derivative of the amino acid called lysine. Lysine is important in allowing fatty acids to enter into the mitochondria making for easier metabolism.

Green tea may help slow the development of type 1 diabetes. While the compound called catechins in matcha tea may help manage blood sugar levels, which may help to explain why people of Japan are so healthy.

Consuming antioxidants could also help lower the risk of getting diabetes.

What antioxidants are best to consume? Almost anything found in fruits and vegetables though supplementation may be best if you want concentrated levels of these free radical scavengers. Curcumin has gained much popularity in recent years for its potential anti-cancer affects, but its also helpful for protecting against diabetes. Another popular antioxidant called resveratrol helped overweight mice lower glucose levels in a study.

Herbs such as gymnema, garlic, fenugreek, ginseng, and cinnamon all offer protection against diabetes. Most of this protection is due to their ability to lower blood sugar levels.

Its also important to get a regular supply of trace minerals such as chromium, magnesium, zinc and vanadium. A deficiency in any of these minerals can cause problems.

Ginger And Your Health

2011-12-03T12:22:00.001-06:00

I baked my first batch of ginger cookies a few weeks ago and they turned out quite delicious. As we get into the holiday season, I thought to post my ginger recipe here, however home-made ginger cookies are more than a healthy snack.

The ginger herb has quite a few medicinal benefits ranging from helping to stop indigestion to blood clots. One of the biochemical compounds called gingerol is believed to inhibit an enzyme that may cause clots and could stop reoccurrence of smaller strokes. The other benefits of ginger are analgesic, antiseptic, aromatic, anti-inflammatory, and stimulant.
The other active compound called shogaols is also responsible for the anti-flammatory affect of ginger.
Ginger displays a high antioxidant activity that furthers its reputation as useful in Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and other therapies. Antioxidants are compounds the scavenge for free radicals that cause inflammation.
Some other compounds present in Ginger may hold promise for preventing cancer such as paradol and zingerone. Okay, enough already about the chemical constitutes of Zingiber officinalis.

Ginger is spice derived from the roots and rhizome of the plant that typically grows in the tropical regions of Asia where its commonly used in their cooking. Its easy to grow in the tropics where its underground rhizomes take up little space while sprouting little leaves above ground that grow to about two feet in height. At four months old its ready to harvest though serious growers usually wait for many more months while the roots take off in the moist, light soil. In colder regions, such as where I live, it probably wouldn't even develop the spicy roots and instead would be nothing more than an ornamental plant. So much for trying to grow my own supply of fresh ginger.

Ginger has a deep, spicy taste that smells even better if your using it in cooking. Its bounds to liven up any dish though in the north its typically used in deserts such as ginger cookies. My recipe is below:

1 1/2 cup of wheat flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon of ginger
1 cup of cane sugar (or brown sugar or any sugar you like)
3/4 cup of butter (may need to add more)
1 fresh egg
1/4 cup of molasses (I didn't use any)

Mix it up in a bowl and preheat stove to at least 350 degrees. Makes about two dozen.

The Environment Reflects Our Health

2011-11-28T16:53:00.000-06:00

Climate change, deforestation, ocean acidification, fresh water disappearing, expanding deserts, peak oil, and land and water pollution found throughout the world. These are the many environmental problems that we face today and probably for many years ahead. And these issues are not just isolated to the natural world around us, but are apart of us and reflect our own state of health. This is what policy makers do not consider in the debate over environmental issues. Problems of pollution and loss of natural resources give us a view into human health as well.

The symbiotic relationship thats been occurring between fungi and plants for millions of years benefits the soil and other organisms around it. In fact, the success of organic agriculture can be determined by how well the beneficial mycorrhizae is maintained. Avoiding the usage of fungicides and heavy fertilization is the best way to do this. Mycorrhizae is important in maintaining nutrient levels and water uptake.
Climate change is possibly one of the biggest threats to human health of the last thirty years. Increasing temperatures could cause infectious disease to become more prevalent while natural disasters will become more commonplace in many parts of world. This reflects our addiction to oil and the consumerism culture that was born of the fossil fuel revolution nearly a hundred years ago. With this revolution came an age of nuclear weapons, globalized power, processed food, synthetic chemicals, disintegration of community, medical-industry complex geared towards sick management instead of prevention, and industrial farming that further degrades environment. Of course, the usage of fossil fuels gave us a comfortable "first world" lifestyle free from dirty conditions, but at the same time it contributes to the downfall of quality of life in terms of true happiness and health.
The fresh water tables are becoming dangerously low in many parts of the world with dry areas most afflicted. This is another part of climate change as the glaciers melt on top of mountains slowly killing local fresh water supplies.
The practice of natural gas drilling has lead to numerous problems for residents living in areas where the fracking is happening. Local water supplies is contaminated with reports of it actually catching fire when a match is lit under the tap due to high arsenic content. These dangers are very similar to the ones of strip mining practices in the Appalachia region. The top of a mountain is literally removed to reach the coal underneath with the leftover debris being left to pile into valleys below where its organic sediments contaminate water and land. Though these practices provide a source of energy to power our homes and cars they are both highly unsustainable in the long-term. We can't continue to pollute water supplies without causing great harm to ourselves.
The field of biotechnology got its first real technical start in the 1980s with the invention of recombinant human insulin and it would later go on to be used in gene therapy, stem cells, and eventually crops. Now it should be noted that biotechnology is not inherently bad or wrongful, in fact there have been truly life-saving and useful medicines to come out of this field such as insulin and organic transplants. However, the overuse and abuse of such technology has spawned frankenfoods that have potentially unknown and bad affects. Genetically-modified crops put into food products came to the market in the early 1990s with little research. Ever since then rates of allergies and autism have gone up to levels never seen in previous generations.
This probably fits in with the first one, but nutrient depletion of the soil is becoming a big problem on our fields. Peak soil, similar to peak oil, goes hand in hand with nutrient depletion as the soil is stripped bare and left to erode away. Soil erosion is what contributes to the high nutrient loss from crop fields. Industrial farming practices leave a field bare after taking the harvest out and overgrazing while organic methods are more sustainable in that they practice crop rotation and cover crops. Planting a winter grain like hardy Rye in your field or comfrey in your garden helps to keep the soil and nutrients in place. Simply adding back organic compost and animal manure (such as chicken manure) every year to a growing area replenishes the soil. Also allowing tap-rooted plants like common weeds (example: dandelion) can literally "mine-out" nutrients from lower soil layers. But the overuse of herbicides in industrial growing kills these beneficial tap-root plants. Soil erosion also exacerbates the problem of water loss as bare soil can't hold water as well as soil held in place by plant roots.

Some of the above problems are too far gone to actually fix and in some cases inevitable, but if we change our thinking to more long-term and less reductionary we can get a better handle on the issues facing us today and in the future. Today, too many times corporations are running the environmental show by giving us a cheap short-term fix thats meant to make them rich and leave us emotionally/spiritually empty in the long run. Its time to get alternative energy and local food systems into the mainstream and get globalized money out of politics and economies. We need to work within our own economies to build humane infrastructure and communities. Of course, many groups are already doing this as can be seen by the peak oil movement, ecovillage planning, permaculture principles, and local food movement that encourages organic and biodynamic farming methods.

Whole Wheat & Spelt Bread Loaf

2011-11-28T15:22:00.000-06:00

I admit that I love experimenting with different bread grains as they all seem to have their own unique qualities to a certain degree. Obviously, whole wheat is my mainstay, but my true favorite is spelt grain. Spelt has a wonderfully nutty flavor and develops a crusty consistency when toasted in my countertop oven. Its low gluten content makes it a great pick for those of you who suffer from gluten allergies or celiac disease. But one of the best features of spelt grain is that its cultivation originates before the growing of wheat hybrids. In other words, spelt grain is very similar to what human ancestors consumed in the great Fertile Crescent thus its vitamin content is more intact than the numerous wheat hybrids living our grocery stores today.

However, its important to add more whole wheat than spelt as the low gluten content of spelt makes it difficult to rise. I personally don't soak my whole wheat as I don't have digestive disorders or problems with gluten, but its a good idea to do so if you suffer from the above. Add at least 3/4 cup of golden flax seed from your local health food shop to give it more crunch and nutrition.

Medium Loaf of Whole Wheat & Spelt Bread:

2 cups of organic whole wheat flour
1 cup and a half of spelt flour
2 teaspoons of sea salt
3 tablespoons of local honey
3 teaspoons of yeast
3/4 cup of golden flax seed

Nutritious Chicken Broth For Chilly Fall Days

2011-10-23T11:59:00.000-05:00

Little known to the mainstream media are the real "superfoods", not fruits and vegetables, which are too low of a concentration of nutrients and needs to be juiced in order to concentrate the nutrients, but many animal based-foods such as raw milk, raw cheese, eggs, yogurt, and chicken broth.

Animal fat sourced from organic, pasture-raised animals contains the highest levels of nutrients and often minerals, too. Chicken broth from these pasture-raised chickens is full of minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus and vitamin D. Long valued as an old-time remedy, the cold-relieving affects of chicken broth cooked in soup may have been confirmed. Of course, if you've read the GAPS book you already know that chicken broth helps to heal the intestinal wall by supplying all the necessary minerals it requires to heal again. Often the intestinal wall is damaged by leakage and inflammation.

And that mineral supply could explain chicken soup's ability to fight blood pressure. The magnesium in chicken broth helps prevent heart disease, which is caused by trans fat, not saturated fat. Magnesium has the ability to lower heart disease as the study shows. Really simply drinking at least a cup of chicken broth a day can help supply minerals and nutrients while beating off the sugar cravings. And its easy to cook with! Below is a favorite recipe of mine (and believe me I never fix anything complicated):

2 cups of chicken broth
1 cup of soaked lentils
Half a cup of chopped carrots
Half a cup of spinach
1 cup of broccoli
1 teaspoon of parsley
1 teaspoon of savory
1 teaspoon of chives
A lot of butter

Low-Carb vs. High-Carb Diets and Gluten Sensitivity

2011-09-30T17:12:00.001-05:00

You may have already heard about some of the harmful substances grain contains such as lectins, phytates, and gluten. Though these substances can be reduced by properly preparing grains and legumes by soaking and sprouting. But how does a low-carb versus high-carb diet figure into the overall health picture? Sure, you can mitigate many of the bad affects from anti-nutrient containing grains, legumes, and nuts, but does this mean its okay to live on a high-carb diet? Or is it better to stick with a low-carb diet? Well, the answer partly depends on what best suits your body and how you prepare food.

Low-carb. First, you can get carbohydrates from other sources besides grains such as legumes (beans, lentils), nuts (almonds, peanuts), tubers (potatoes), and tomatoes. And this is exactly what makes low-carb diets so difficult and too strict (in other words, no fun). You realize that your favorites foods like pizza and pasta are much harder to fix though grain flour alternatives like coconut can be used as a pizza crust. The human body is also designed to use glucose (grains is a major source of glucose) as an energy source. You may feel tired or generally out of energy after being on a low-carb diet for awhile.

On the other hand, too much glucose can lead to raised blood sugars thus setting the body up for insulin resistance or even diabetes. And in our modern world full of conveniently packaged snacks loaded with processed carbs its easy to get too many carbs. Its better to limit your intake of carbs by preparing grains and legumes at home and baking them yourself instead of buying them from the store shelves. After processed sugary snacks that contain fructose, carbs are the second biggest source of sugar. In fact, many people unintentionally subsist on a high-carb diet without even realizing it as the sugar can be addictive, not to mention that carb addiction could be due to fungal overgrowth in the gut. You may not even realize that your carb craving might be contributing to gut flora imbalance thus leading to autoimmune, neurological, and even mental problems later one.

So what does this have to do with gluten sensitivity? No, I'm not talking about celiac disease as thats different from gluten sensitivity. You can have problems with gluten in grains without having celiac disease though. With gluten sensitivity the body experiences more of an allergy to gluten-containing foods. Typical symptoms can be diarrhea, constipation, foul stool, bloating, and excessive gas after consuming gluten.

However, its best not to cave in to the mainstream gluten-free "trend" as most commercially processed gluten-free cookies, cakes, chips, bread, pasta, and sauce still contain a lot of sugar and sometimes even more than your regular processed foods. When first realizing you have gluten sensitivity its best to go on a low-carb or even grain-free diet for a month or more (see the amazing GAPS diet). After that time properly prepare your own grains at home where you can even use coconut flour to bake cookies and cakes using a natural sweetener like honey.

(Links to sources in orange.)

The Health Benefits Of Rosemary

2011-09-25T13:19:00.000-05:00

As the warm season in the Midwest comes to an end causing gardens everywhere to die down, I find myself even more busy picking herbs and leaving them out to dry for me to use during the coming Winter. Amongst the ever popular parsley, chives, mint, sage, oregano, and cilantro can be found aromatic, oil-rich Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinallis). Rosemary is a type of small herbaceous shrub thats native to the Mediterranean region and grows best in loamy to sandy soils with periodic watering and at least six hours of full sun a day. This year I grew mine in a shallow circular pot on the porch where I can easily get to it everyday.

The oily leaves are lance-shaped on stems that can grow up to 12 inches in height and blooms purple-white flowers in Spring till late in the season. However, its pretty blooms are only one aspect of this very practical herb. Rosemary is a stimulant, diaphoretic, aromatic, carminative, and nervine. The sharp, strong smell of rosemary oil acts as a refresher and awakener. And if you've ever caught a whiff of rosemary you know what I'm talking about! So how does rosemary benefit our health?

The antioxidant called carnosol may protect against DNA damage and inflammation.

Rosemary can be used as an essential oil for arthritis pain.

Luteolin, a compound found in rosemary, helps reduce age-related memory lost.

The aromatic oils of such plants as rosemary were successful in the immediate treatment of upper respiratory infection.

Extracts from rosemary show some promise in treating Herpes simplex virus.

Rosemary compounds may be able to prevent and treat cancer.

The carnosic acid compound in rosemary has shown potential as anti-cancer.

Oil shows anti-microbial potential.

The Benefits Of Fermented Foods

2011-09-02T09:46:00.000-05:00

Fermentation is the process of sugar -using yeast, bacteria, and mold- being consumed by good bacteria to create a fermented alcohol that can preserve food and drinks. Pickles, sauerkraut, green vegetables, cheese, yogurt, beer, and kombucha are all commonly fermented foods. Ever since ancient times people have been preserving food this way over the long Winter months when there was no other edibles besides meat/dairy available.

The health benefits of fermented foods include immune-protectant and helping to balance the overall gut flora due to the presence of good bacteria found in the fermentation process. A recent study showed that diet can affect viruses in the human gut. This could stand in contrast to modern science's usual "scorch the Earth" attitude towards bacteria, and finally realize that we need good bacteria to survive and that the era of antibiotic overuse has negatively affected human health. When you consume fermented food (my favorites our cheese, yogurt, and kombucha) you introduce good bacteria to your gut.

There are hundreds of different bacteria, good and bad, living in your gut and when anything goes out of whack it can cause problems such as candida yeast infection, bacterial and fungal overgrowth, and viruses takeover gut. As our gut floras play a role in digesting food when their out of balance food particles can escape undigested into the bloodstream possibly causing autoimmune reactions. Most modern processed foods have no good bacteria to help balance the gut so thats why we should not consume these processed foods.

We must obtain this good bacteria from traditionally fermented foods. You probably already know that raw dairy milk from organic cows is a very healthful food full of naturally-occurring vitamins, but fermenting the raw milk is even better. It removes the milk sugar lactose that so many people are allergic to today. Chocolate is actually a product of fermentation as the beans are fermented to give a deep, richer flavor. Fermented bread, also called sourdough bread, helps to reduce gluten, phytate, and lectin levels. So its always a good time to start introducing these healthy fermented foods into your diet.

Why Choose Organic Produce Over Genetically-Modified Produce?

2011-08-22T14:52:00.001-05:00

Genetically-modified organisms were first created back in the early 1990s by biotechnology. These organisms genes are purposely altered by biotechnologists in the hope that it will be superior to the non-genetically modified variety. However, this is a complete myth as GMO crops have shown numerous problems and dangers such as the creation of superweeds, resistant pests, potential mutant viruses, and sudden die-offs. The old practice of carefully crossbreeding plants for their naturally superior attributes works just fine. In fact, its even better as it allows crop plants to adapt to a specific bio region. I live in the Midwest so a certain bean variety from the West Coast probably isn't going to do well in my area due to the short growing season while crops can be grown much longer out west. Its this micro-climate that plant varieties evolve within that makes local food dependency a much smarter option than depending on corporate agriculture.

So why should you choose organic produce over fresh GMO produce? First, genetically-modified crops have been linked to a variety of health risks in humans such as allergies, immune troubles, neurological problems, and cancer. Ever since the 1990s allergies and neurological issues such as autism have risen in kids, which was around the time GMOs were first introduced to the marketplace. Just because the GMO produce is fresh doesn't make it healthier than organic wholesome produce. Much of the research exposing the dangers of GMO food is suppressed and attacked by the same companies selling the GMO patents. Biotechnology companies will fund their own studies to throw the genetically-modified crops into a good light, but in reality scientific research not in corporate pockets shows a different side to things. Most GMOs are sprayed down with herbicides that still pollute the environment and further harm human health.

Though the real reason can be found in the enormous benefit of supporting organics instead of handing over more money to the global agriculture that takes money out of local community and away from small farms. There nothing better than supporting your own local farm directly by buying the organic produce, which cuts down on pollution caused by transportation, too. GMOs also contaminate nearby non-GMO crops that can end up with small organic farmers being sued by large biotechnology companies for patent infringement sending small farms into bankruptcy. Why would anyone trust such a malicious industry with their health? Its time to take back our food supply and buy organic.

The Benefits Of Spearmint

2011-08-12T12:55:00.000-05:00

I've just started my first kombucha brewing and decided to use spearmint leaves to flavor it. Spearmint is a prominent member of the perennial Mint herb family known for its sweet, spicy taste and aromatic smell thats been used for centuries in the Mediterrean region. A shrub in its native region it usually only grows to twelve inches or so in the more temperate regions of the US. Unlike peppermint, Mentha spicata isn't as high in menthol so its flavor leans more toward the cooler side. The spear-shaped leaves and pink flowers are the parts harvested.

Spearmint is an excellent sources of anti-bacterial compounds as well as vitamin C, magnesium, folate, and iron. Adding to its status as an already well-known treatment for bad breath is indigestion and giving off a relaxing aroma. In ancient times it was used to disinfect hospital rooms and as a perfume to attract a romantic partner. The tradition of flavoring all sorts of teas and dishes with spearmint can still be seen today. I know how much I love the taste of fresh spearmint in my tea and kombucha. This year I have a lot of different mints growing in my garden so I've begun harvesting my spearmint to dry and store it for the Winter. To dry simply cut stems off the plant or pick leaves off and leave them in the light to dry for at least three days. Mine are spread across a small white desk in my room on brown paper where they began curling up when dry after only two days.

Quick facts on spearmint:

Originated from Mediterranean region
Perennial member of the Mint herb family that usually blooms pink or white in Summer
Health benefits include breath freshener, indigestion aid, natural disinfectant, aromatic
Can be used in tea, kombucha, salads, potpourris,

Spearmint is easy to grow and cultivate as you'll quickly learn when it tries to take over your garden. But at least you can be sure you'll always have a good supply. Use it in beverages, salads, compost, soups, and potpourris.

Sources:
Peppermint and Spearmint WHF
Health Benefits of Spearmint

Conventional Medicine's Tragic Denial of The Real Cause Of "Mental Disorders"

2011-07-26T16:54:00.001-05:00

Honestly, I'm not going to go into the horrors of the Psychiatry Industry with their mass drugging of kids and teens and handing out anti-psychotics like candy. Mental disorders are a symptom just like every other disease and not the cause. A symptom caused by the situation that ends up leading to that mysterious imbalance that the medical establishment propagandizes that their toxic drugs alone can cure. In many traditional societies there were no mental disorders, especially the ones that didn't consume grains such as south Pacific island cultures. It was during the advent of the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s that institutions for the "mentally ill" came into being. Isn't it ironic that there was an increase in such disorders during a time when environmental pollutants were beginning to trash our world? But as usual "modern" medicine doesn't see the obvious connection and instead blames it on genetics.

Perhaps what makes the Psychiatry Industry the most insidious industry of the medical establishment is that it continuously maintains that only drugs can treat mental disorders. They don't even bother to look at the numerous environmental toxins and nutritional deficiencies that can lead to a mental disorder. In fact, autism (a mostly neurological disorder) has been linked to environmental pollutants already. Since gut and immune system health have been discovered to be highly interconnected anything that affects the immune system could potentially disrupt normal gut flora and functioning. Certain toxins commonly found in personal care products such as propylene glycol, fragrance, and tocopheryl acetate are toxic to the immune system. No wonder so many people get sick every year from various viruses and bacteria! Yet conventional medicine never bothers to look at these factors.

So what does all of this have to do with the development of mental disorders? Gut dybiosis is the term for when theres an imbalance of naturally-occurring bacteria (good and bad) in your gut. Serotonin is produced by the gut so when its imbalanced due to environmental toxin overload and bad nutrition this depletes the serotonin leading to depression and other mental issues. The severity of the imbalance can vary amongst individuals, but in most people it always shows the same symptoms: autoimmune disorders (allergies, food intolerances, asthma), neurological disorders (multiple sclerosis, autism) and mental disorders (depression, bipolar, schizophrenia). Celiac and Crohn's disease are another possible result of this gut imbalance. The amount of good bacteria in your gut can directly affect how well it digests food and absorb nutrients. If environmental toxins get to be too much then fungus may develop that literally grows roots and makes holes in the intestinal lining letting toxins into the rest of the body reeking havoc on brain functioning and nerves. Another worry is the waste products released by the overwhelming load of parasites, worms, and other fungus allowed to multiple due to a lack of good bacteria. So it would be better to address the underlying cause of toxins and nutritional issues than simply doping up people because they seem depressed, think differently, or are hyper.

(Links to sources are in orange. Please click them).

Toxic Ingredients In Personal Care Products

2011-07-16T15:52:00.001-05:00

Like so many other modern industries the personal hygiene/cosmetic industry is mostly a hoax. The plethora of toxic ingredients found in many of the products are a result of the post-WWll chemical industry that was looking for a new market for its chemicals. So they dumped them in our food, cosmetics, medicine, and environment. The chemicals commonly found in commercial cosmetic products are acrylamide (carcinogen), chlorine dioxide (toxic to reproduction organs), formaldehyde (carcinogen), glycolic acid, isopropanol (can damage reproductive organs), parabens (carcinogen), urea (toxic to skin), artificial colors, and many of these ingredients are petroleum-based so their contributing to oil depletion and environmental pollution. Many of these chemicals can lead to endocrine-disruption and contain estrogen-mimickers that are linked to breast cancer.

I called it a hoax because these chemicals are unnecessary. Really no one needs preservatives in their cosmetics or artificial colors, fragrance, gels, petroleum-based chemicals, estrogen-mimickers, fragrance, and acid to penetrate the skin. Clean should have no smell. And its perfectly possible to get clean without any of the above. Back in the "olden days" people used nothing more than a rinse made from oil and vinegar. Soap bars were of a lye material or lanolin mixed with fresh herbs and oil (coconut, olive, etc.). Now I had a real problem with bad-smelling sweat for many years so if your reading this and thinking how "natural" hygenie products can't possibly work for you I'll tell you that strong sweat smell is most likely caused by too many carbs in the diet. When you burn energy from glucose (carbs break down into pure sugar in the body) it has a stronger smell then if you were burning energy from protein (animal-based).
Now onto instructions for my homemade rinses and hygiene alternatives!
Basic Hair Rinse (and Body Rinse too)

2 cups of Apple Cider Vinegar
3 teaspoons of fresh or dried herbs (rosemary, lavender, chamomile)
2 tablespoons of olive oil (or coconut oil)

Toothpaste

2 table spoons of sea salt
2 teaspoons of baking soda
Swish oil around your mouth afterwards

Leave it sit for two weeks in a cool, dark place and shake it up every day really well to release the herbs beneficial compounds into the apple cider vinegar. Another great homemade rinse is 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, 2 cups of lanolin, and three teaspoons of fresh herbs, your choice. Typically lavender, rosemary, and chamomile are the most popular herbs for personal care. If you'd still like to buy commercial care products than its best to buy pure castille soap, which is great for hair and skin. I use to have really long hair so I know that castille can leave your hair tangley if you don't immediately brush it out. So brush it out after drying hair a bit.

(Links to sources in orange. Please click them.)

Sustainable Growing And Summer Gardening Ideas

2011-07-07T20:14:00.000-05:00

July has come upon my area of the midwest with temperatures of 88 degrees and above in full swing. Its almost amusing how erratic weather patterns and tempatures are around here. In the middle of May a frost might hit then the sizzling heat of summer arrives soon afterwards. Due to the continuous rains in May I started my garden planting later than usual. Some plants such as the parsley, pennyroyal, coneflower, spinach, lettuce, and squash vines are doing very nicely, but on the other side of the spectrum some plants haven't done so well. It could be due to hail damage or simply a bad year of pest infestation, but whatever the cause my beans, broccoli, sage, oregano, and basil have been ate up or simply dying. With the basil and oregano I strongly suspect hail damage due to the way the leaves appear to be unusually battered with tears visible in some. The tears themselves have a crumpled, sporadic pattern so while it could be a harmful pest I stick to the hail damage explanation. Also basil is really a delicate herb so its plausible that hail might have killed it.

Of course, my garden is all organic and naturally tended. Why would I douse my food in poison when I could buy poisoned food from the grocery store anyways? Much of the commercial produce found in stores is grown with the heavy use of pesticides that make the produce toxic, pollute the environment, and are very expensive to produce and use. The "organic movement" is not just a fringe trend nor is the deeper practice of permaculture. Organic agriculture is about growing nutritious food without the use of chemicals by utilizing companion planting, polycrop, composting, encouraging biodiversity, and beneficial insects that work in harmony with the rest of the habitat. Now permaculture is not the same thing as organic agriculture as it seeks to create sustainable habitats for humans as well as animals and plants. It utilizes energy-efficiency, recyclable waste management, biodiversity, and seeks to create a ecological balance through food forests and encouraging beneficial animals and insects. Permaculture differs from organic because its region-specific. It uses the materials already available in the local environment.

Since we all live on this planet we should all strive to use resources in the most sustainable way possible. Throw food leftovers in a compost bin, attract birds and keep chickens to eat insects, buy local to support community and reduce the distance resources have to travel, grow local plants to conserve water, and plant lots of perennials to prevent soil erosion.

Thankfully, many of these sustainable practices can be integrated into your summer garden plan. I'll start by saying that I probably planted my snap beans too early. Most leafy greens and beans should be planted in the beginning of summer, which is around the start of July in my area. To keep veggies happy you should add some compost or manure in around this time. As for herbs and flowers, chives, basil, rosemary, parsley, lemon balm, mint, and milk thistle should all be in full throttle by Summer. Many of these herbs have blooms that make their showy appearance around early or mid-Summer. Flowers such as bee balm, cone flower, and lupine actually develop their flower blooms in late Spring.To keep flowers and herbs blooming you should regularly clean them by picking off dead blooms (called deadheading or pinching) and cleaning out dead leaves from stem and soil. Many perennials such as sage and yarrow can be successfully transplanted in Summer. You also want to take cuttings off your mints by now so they'll keep growing out and you can keep a study supply of mint propagations around to cover the bare soil in your garden.

Further Information:

Pesticide-Induced Diseases

Pesticide Dangers

Synthetic Toxins Vs. Natural Toxins

2011-06-28T15:53:00.000-05:00

There really isn't much out there on this important subject, but its the basis for many of the organic movement and food industry arguments alike. One side claims that natural, wholesome food is healthier than processed food laced with additives, preservatives, and artificial colors. Indeed, processed food made in factories are more a product of the lavatory than of the kitchen. But that doesn't meant their safer or superior to organic natural foods. And organic natural foods aren't always safer than factory-made food. At the root of this conflict is are society's distrust of nature and all things natural. The pharmaceutical, food, and agriculture industries are a dark example of this distrust and fear. Of course, other factors such as "convenience", cost, and time are in the picture as well. So our obsession with chemically-processed food has to do with economical constrains almost as much as our general attitude towards natural food.

But what is the difference between between the synthetic toxins found in processed food and the difference between natural toxins found in natural foods? First, I'd like to make the distinction between the two. Usually processed food is the name for food you typically buy at a large commercial or chain grocery store in a pre-packaged container that has a long list of ingredients on the back while natural foods are not processed at all and come in the form of fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, and meat/dairy products. I've written a previous post on the toxins commonly found in processed food: excitotoxins, azodicarbonamide, petroleum-based artificial colors, preservatives, pesticide residue, and nutrient-stripping processes such as pastuerization. Natural foods contain their own toxins as well such as mycotoxins (toxins from mold), goitrogens (cause enlargement of thyroid gland), phytoestrogen (estrogen-mimickers), anti-nutrients, oxalate (can inhibit calcium intake), and glycosides that can be poisonous in large amounts.

Its important to point out that humans evolved with the natural toxins found in plants for millions of years. While our hunter-gatherer ancestors mostly hunted wild game meat they still consumed seasonal vegetables and fruits. However, they never picked any packaged cookies or cakes off a stem when out hunting for game. They never had to deal with synthetic additives. I think that evolution holds the best answer to the question of whether synthetic or natural toxins are better for you (or the lesser of two evils). Of course, there are some deadly poisons found in nature such as the Poison Hemlock and raw potatoes, which you should never consume. Usually its safer to cook food though this doesn't always disarm potential plant toxins. Generally, our bodies can handle natural toxins better than synthetic as synthetic introduces foreign chemicals only invented in the last hundred years. And most of these chemicals are unnecessary anyways. Its perfectly safe and possible to prepare real wholesome food from real ingredients instead of toxic synthetic foods so I think I'll stick with my veggies and herb soup for dinner!

(Links to sources are in orange text. Please click on them.)