This post was moved to my permanent website: Good Works Wellness. Please view the complete version of it here: http://goodworkswellness.com/shining-light-on-the-truth-about-sun-exposure/
One of the greatest myths perpetuated by 20th Century marketing scams is the belief that sun exposure is harmful and causes skin cancer. This myth has perpetuated a lack of Vitamin D in this country and may even be INCREASING the incidence of skin cancer due to certain chemicals contained in sunscreen. Let's look at the truth ...
Monday, June 6, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Important Info from the Institute for Responsible Technology
This information is so important I felt the need to share it. It is especially important to me because I recently found out I have an auto-immune condition that is attacking the lining of my digestive tract. I'll spare you the gory details, but the results are not fun. I'm blessed to be able to control the symptoms using a variety of natural methods, and to be receiving a European Amino Acid protocol designed to modulate the auto-immune system and reverse auto-immune conditions, but information like what is shared below infuriates me. PLEASE read and take measures to protect yourself and your children.If you have any autoimmune or allergy issues, this information could explain its origin. Please read and act accordingly. Many thanks to the Institute for Responsible Technology for allowing this information to be freely shared. Please share on your blogs and social media accounts. Thanks!Watch this two minute video, Double Dipping Danger, produced by Alex Bogusky, and then read about new evidence below showing even more harm from genetically modified foods. Click HERE to play. |  |
by Jeffrey M. SmithBut Monsanto and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) swore up and down that it was only insects that would be hurt. The Bt-toxin, they claimed, would be completely destroyed in the human digestive system and not have any impact on all of us trusting corn-eating consumers.
Oops. A study just proved them wrong.
Doctors at Sherbrooke University Hospital in Quebec found the corn's Bt-toxin in the blood of pregnant women and their babies, as well as in non-pregnant women. (Specifically, the toxin was identified in 93% of 30 pregnant women, 80% of umbilical blood in their babies, and 67% of 39 non-pregnant women.) The study has been accepted for publication in the peer reviewed journal Reproductive Toxicology.
According to the UK Daily Mail, this study, which "appears to blow a hole in" safety claims, "has triggered calls for a ban on imports and a total overhaul of the safety regime for genetically modified (GM) crops and food." Organizations from England to New Zealand are now calling for investigations and for GM crops to be halted due to the serious implications of this finding.
Links to allergies, auto-immune disease, and other disorders
There's already plenty of evidence that the Bt-toxin produced in GM corn and cotton plants is toxic to humans and mammals and triggers immune system responses. The fact that it flows through our blood supply, and that is passes through the placenta into fetuses, may help explain the rise in many disorders in the US since Bt crop varieties were first introduced in 1996.
In government-sponsored research in Italy, mice fed Monsanto's Bt corn showed a wide range of immune responses. Their elevated IgE and IgG antibodies, for example, are typically associated with allergies and infections. The mice had an increase in cytokines, which are associated with "allergic and inflammatory responses." The specific cytokines (interleukins) that were elevated are also higher in humans who suffer from a wide range of disorders, from arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, to MS and cancer (see chart).
Elevated interleukins | Associations |
IL-6 | Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, various types of cancer (multiple myeloma and prostate cancer) |
IL-13 | Allergy, allergic rhinitis, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) |
MIP-1b | Autoimmune disease and colitis. |
IL-12p70 | Inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis |
When rats were fed another of Monsanto's Bt corn varieties called MON 863, their immune systems were also activated, showing higher numbers of basophils, lymphocytes, and white blood cells. These can indicate possible allergies, infections, toxins, and various disease states including cancer. There were also signs of toxicity in the liver and kidneys.
Natural Bt is dangerous
Farmers have used Bt-toxin from soil bacteria as a natural pesticide for years. But they spray it on plants, where it washes off and biodegrades in sunlight. The GM version is built-in; every plant cell has its own spray bottle. The toxin doesn't wash off; it's consumed. Furthermore, the plant-produced version of the poison is thousands of times more concentrated than the spray; is designed to be even more toxic; and has properties of known allergens—it actually fails the World Health Organization's allergen screening tests.
The biotech companies ignore the substantial difference between the GM toxin and the natural bacteria version, and boldly claim that since the natural spray has a history of safe use in agriculture, it's therefore OK to put the poison directly into our food. But even this claim of safe use of Bt spray ignores peer-reviewed studies showing just the opposite.
When natural Bt-toxin was fed to mice, they had tissue damage, immune responses as powerful as cholera toxin, and even started reacting to other foods that were formerly harmless. Farm workers exposed to Bt also showed immune responses. The EPA's own expert Scientific Advisory Panel said that these mouse and farm worker studies "suggest that Bt proteins could act as antigenic and allergenic sources."But the EPA ignored the warnings. They also overlooked studies showing that about 500 people in Washington state and Vancouver showed allergic and flu-like symptoms when they were exposed to the spray when it was used to kill gypsy moths.
Bt cotton linked to human allergies, animal deaths
 |
Indian farm workers are suffering from rashes and itching and other symptoms after coming into contact with Bt cotton. |
It gets worse.
 |
All thirteen buffalo of a small Indian village died after grazing for a single day on Bt cotton plants. |
One small study in Andhra Pradesh reported that all six sheep that grazed on Bt cotton plants died within a month, while the three controls fed natural cotton plants showed no adverse symptoms.
Living pesticide factories inside us?
Getting back to the Bt-toxin now circulating in the blood of North American adults and newborns—how did it get there? The study authors speculate that it was consumed in the normal diet of the Canadian middle class. They even suggest that the toxin may have come from eating meat from animals fed Bt corn—as most livestock are.
I'd like to speculate on another possible source. But I warn you, it's not pretty.
The only human feeding study every published on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) was conducted on Roundup Ready soybeans. Here's their back story: Scientists found bacteria growing in a chemical waste dump near their factory, surviving the presence of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide. The herbicide normally kills bacteria, but this organism had some special gene that allowed it to survive. So Monsanto scientists figured, "Let's put it into the food supply!"
By forcing that genes from that bacterium into soybean plants' DNA, the plants then survive an otherwise deadly dose of Roundup herbicide—hence the name Roundup Ready.
In the human study, some of the subjects were found to have Roundup Ready gut bacteria! This means that sometime in the past, from eating one or more meals of GM soybeans, the gene that had been discovered in the chemical waste dump and forced into the soy, had transferred into the DNA of bacteria living inside their intestines—and continued to function. That means that long after we stop eating GMOs, we may still have dangerous GM proteins produced continuously inside of us.
When the results of the study emerged, the funding from the pro-GMO UK government mysteriously dried up, so they were not able to see if the same type of gene transfer happens with Bt genes from, say, corn chips. If it does, it means that eating Bt corn might turn our intestinal flora into living pesticide factories—continually manufacturing Bt-toxin from within our digestive systems.
I don't know of a test that can confirm that this is happening, but the Canada study may be showing the results—where Bt-toxins are found in the blood of a very high percentage of people.
If the "living pesticide factory" hypothesis is correct, we might speculate even further. Bt-toxin breaks open the stomach of insects. Could it similarly be damaging the integrity of our digestive tracts? The biotech companies insist that Bt-toxin doesn't bind or interact with the intestinal walls of mammals, and therefore humans. But here too they ignore peer-reviewed published evidence showing that Bt-toxin does bind with mouse small intestines and with intestinal tissue from rhesus monkeys. In the former study, they even found "changes in the electrophysiological properties" of the organ after the Bt-toxin came into contact.
If Bt-toxins were causing leaky gut syndrome in newborns, the passage of undigested foods and toxins into the blood from the intestines could be devastating. Scientists speculate that it may lead to autoimmune diseases and food allergies. Furthermore, since the blood-brain barrier is not developed in newborns, toxins may enter the brain causing serious cognitive problems. Some healthcare practitioners and scientists are convinced that this is the apparent mechanism for autism.
Thus, if Bt genes were colonizing the bacteria living in the digestive tract of North Americans, we might see an increase in gastrointestinal problems, autoimmune diseases, food allergies, and childhood learning disorders—since 1996 when Bt crops came on the market. Physicians have told me that they indeed are seeing such an increase.
The discovery of Bt-toxin in our blood does not confirm all this speculation, but it does provide food for thought. And hopefully, that food is non-GMO.
Our Institute for Responsible Technology joins other organizations worldwide calling for an immediate ban on GM food crops, and the commencement of rigorous independent scientific research on the safety of GMOs in general, and Bt-toxin in particular.
Action Alert: While we work for a ban on GMOs, in the mean time click here to sign a petition for President Obama to require labeling.
Jeffrey M. Smith is the Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, author of the #1 international bestselling book on GMOs, Seeds of Deception, and of Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods. To avoid GMOs, which is the advice of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, visit www.NonGMOShoppingGuide.com.
For references to this blog, go to: http://www.responsibletechnology.org/blog/1412
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Thursday, April 21, 2011
Ending Allergies Forever (No ... really!)
One of the most common complaints I hear right now is that everyone is miserable with allergies. I used to suffer with allergies and KNOW how awful it is to feel that exhaustion, congestion and frustration. The problem with allergies is that the increased mucous and inflammation in the nasal cavities and lungs are true breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. The constant battle against the allergens also depletes the immune system, further weakening an already weak body. Many people with nasal allergies develop secondary viral or bacterial infections that knock them down even further.
In addition to daily use of a Neti Pot, keeping windows closed, or even wearing a mask while outdoors, there are natural products that can eliminate symptoms and even reverse the allergy. A list of natural remedies follows:
- Treating the symptoms: My favorite tool for combating allergies quickly and efficiently is to use a natural combination of Quercetin, Stinging Nettles (they don't sting, I promise), Bromelain and N-Acetyl Cysteine.These natural ingredients not only reduce and eliminate the congestion and inflammation that makes us miserable, but also STOP the allergic reaction. How? These ingredients strengthen cell walls and prevent the release of histamines from what are called Mast Cells. The mast cells are responsible for the allergic misery many people know so well. Stopping the release of histamines stops the allergic reaction and prevents the misery. My favorite combination of these ingredients is called D-Hist. D-Hist not only works amazingly well, it works FAST, often within 30 minutes. Follow the instructions on the bottle and use a loading dose before backing down to a maintenance dose. D-Hist is also available in a Jr. version (http://amzn.to/d-histjr). You can order D-Hist online at http://amzn.to/d-hist or can find it in most healthfood stores. You can also order the adult and junior version online at http://loganmd.com/pharmacy.html.
- Combat the auto-immune reaction: There is a wide variety of homeopathic remedies formulated for specific allergies. These remedies come in versions that specifically target allergies to tree pollen, hayfever, flowers, molds, etc. Some are regional to target specific plants/antigens in your region. Homeopathy works by using an extremely tiny amount of all-natural products to stimulate the body to naturally heal itself or reverse a condition. Homeopathics are known to effectively lower the body's "attack" against allergens and thereby reduce and eliminate the symptoms. For people with extremely severe allergies, homeopathics combined with D-Hist are often a powerful combination to bring fast relief. Please contact a trained practitioner before selecting a homeopathic remedy. Many different factors need to be considered in selecting the correct remedy. In my practice, I use systematic EDS testing to ensure the correct remedy is used.
- Identify the food connection: I used to have horrific seasonal allergies, often spending months on antibiotics because of the chronic infection that resulted from the attack on my nasal passages. My doctors insisted there was not a food connection, but I insisted there was and found a holistic NP who ordered a food allergy test. Guess what? The test revealed multiple food sensitivities. Within two months of eliminating all the foods I was allergic to (and there were many), my nasal allergies completely disappeared. The bottom line is that my nasal problems weren't caused by seasonal allergens. My nasal passages were already inflamed from my food allergies and were merely worsened by the seasonal pollens and molds. Today seasons come and go my nasal passages show no change ... until I slip and eat something I shouldn't. In working with patients, I have found that many of them experienced the same "miraculous" disappearance of allergies once food allergens were eliminated. Food allergies often cause very mild symptoms that most people don't associate with a food sensitivity. Nasal congestion is just one of many possible reactions. Food allergies can be identified by a simple blood test that tests for over 375 different allergens, or can be identified by an elimination diet that eliminates the most common allergenic foods and then gradually adds them back while watching for symptoms. Even if you don't have any true food sensitivities, many people find their allergy symptoms diminish if they eliminate dairy. If your allergies are horrible, try eliminating all dairy and wheat products from your diet for two weeks. If you do this, let me know what changes you see.
Allergies make us miserable, but they CAN be combated! Some doctors in the US are trained on a European treatment that uses injections of highly-specialized amino acid combinations. These combinations help the body restore and balance the auto-immune system and often completely eliminate food and environmental allergies. I'm starting this treatment soon and am hopeful my food allergies will soon be gone.
If you are interested in receiving more information on seasonal allergies or in being tested to determine what remedies are best for you, please feel free to contact my office at 317.598.4325. Private consultations are available in person or over the phone.
In addition to daily use of a Neti Pot, keeping windows closed, or even wearing a mask while outdoors, there are natural products that can eliminate symptoms and even reverse the allergy. A list of natural remedies follows:
- Treating the symptoms: My favorite tool for combating allergies quickly and efficiently is to use a natural combination of Quercetin, Stinging Nettles (they don't sting, I promise), Bromelain and N-Acetyl Cysteine.These natural ingredients not only reduce and eliminate the congestion and inflammation that makes us miserable, but also STOP the allergic reaction. How? These ingredients strengthen cell walls and prevent the release of histamines from what are called Mast Cells. The mast cells are responsible for the allergic misery many people know so well. Stopping the release of histamines stops the allergic reaction and prevents the misery. My favorite combination of these ingredients is called D-Hist. D-Hist not only works amazingly well, it works FAST, often within 30 minutes. Follow the instructions on the bottle and use a loading dose before backing down to a maintenance dose. D-Hist is also available in a Jr. version (http://amzn.to/d-histjr). You can order D-Hist online at http://amzn.to/d-hist or can find it in most healthfood stores. You can also order the adult and junior version online at http://loganmd.com/pharmacy.html.
- Combat the auto-immune reaction: There is a wide variety of homeopathic remedies formulated for specific allergies. These remedies come in versions that specifically target allergies to tree pollen, hayfever, flowers, molds, etc. Some are regional to target specific plants/antigens in your region. Homeopathy works by using an extremely tiny amount of all-natural products to stimulate the body to naturally heal itself or reverse a condition. Homeopathics are known to effectively lower the body's "attack" against allergens and thereby reduce and eliminate the symptoms. For people with extremely severe allergies, homeopathics combined with D-Hist are often a powerful combination to bring fast relief. Please contact a trained practitioner before selecting a homeopathic remedy. Many different factors need to be considered in selecting the correct remedy. In my practice, I use systematic EDS testing to ensure the correct remedy is used.
- Identify the food connection: I used to have horrific seasonal allergies, often spending months on antibiotics because of the chronic infection that resulted from the attack on my nasal passages. My doctors insisted there was not a food connection, but I insisted there was and found a holistic NP who ordered a food allergy test. Guess what? The test revealed multiple food sensitivities. Within two months of eliminating all the foods I was allergic to (and there were many), my nasal allergies completely disappeared. The bottom line is that my nasal problems weren't caused by seasonal allergens. My nasal passages were already inflamed from my food allergies and were merely worsened by the seasonal pollens and molds. Today seasons come and go my nasal passages show no change ... until I slip and eat something I shouldn't. In working with patients, I have found that many of them experienced the same "miraculous" disappearance of allergies once food allergens were eliminated. Food allergies often cause very mild symptoms that most people don't associate with a food sensitivity. Nasal congestion is just one of many possible reactions. Food allergies can be identified by a simple blood test that tests for over 375 different allergens, or can be identified by an elimination diet that eliminates the most common allergenic foods and then gradually adds them back while watching for symptoms. Even if you don't have any true food sensitivities, many people find their allergy symptoms diminish if they eliminate dairy. If your allergies are horrible, try eliminating all dairy and wheat products from your diet for two weeks. If you do this, let me know what changes you see.
Allergies make us miserable, but they CAN be combated! Some doctors in the US are trained on a European treatment that uses injections of highly-specialized amino acid combinations. These combinations help the body restore and balance the auto-immune system and often completely eliminate food and environmental allergies. I'm starting this treatment soon and am hopeful my food allergies will soon be gone.
If you are interested in receiving more information on seasonal allergies or in being tested to determine what remedies are best for you, please feel free to contact my office at 317.598.4325. Private consultations are available in person or over the phone.
Monday, January 17, 2011
I'm sick! What now?
This is the first of what I hope will be many videos. The quality is very poor (I'm working on that), but the information is valid. Please let me know your thoughts! Thanks so much!
Monday, August 30, 2010
How Much Should You Weigh?
[I am blessed to have been asked to join the staff of the Fat2Fit Club blog (Fat2Fit Club) as one of their resident experts. This post first appeared on their wonderful site.]
Those of you who know me know that I DO NOT consider weight to be a valid measure of health. However, many people are curious about what their “ideal” weight might be. We are inundated with pictures of rail-thin models, both male and female, who probably have to run around in the shower just to get wet. These images can make us think that abnormally low weights are healthy, which they often are not. The truth is that we each have a very unique ideal weight, and that it may change as as our lifestyle changes. My belief is that how we FEEL is far more important than how much we WEIGH. Most people begin to feel more energy and have a more positive outlook as a result of losing weight. Increasing exercise levels can often accomplish those things even if weight loss does not occur.
I’ve shared a formula below that provides a guideline … NOT an absolute. Again, please don’t get hung up on numbers. Merely use this formula to help you set your own goals related to weight loss. For instance, my “ideal” weight as a 5’6″ woman with a large frame is 140 lbs, a weight which many people would consider “heavy.” Because of my physical make-up, I can fit into a size 4 at a weight of 140. Obviously, everyone’s physical structure is unique, so use the formula that follows merely as a suggestion. I confess that I find it runs a bit thin, so please do not be alarmed at the number it delivers as your "ideal" weight. Take it with a grain of salt and focus on improving your overall health.
Body weight is dependent on a lot of different factors. Believe it or not, bone density, liver size and brain size can affect weight. (So, the next time someone says you’re overweight, just tell them you have a big brain.) The numbers are not as important as the physical and emotional effects your weight has on your outlook and attitude.
A very simple formula for calculating your ideal weight is:
Men: Add 6 pounds for every inch of height over 5 feet to a base weight of:
Small Frame: 110 lbs
Medium Frame: 115 lbs
Large Frame: 120 lbs
Women: Add 5 pounds for every inch of height over 5 feet to a base weight of:
Small Frame: 100 lbs
Medium Frame: 105 lbs
Large Frame: 110 lbs
*I modified the formula to include the following:
Women: Add 5 lbs of body weight if you have a C cup bra size; add 7 lbs if you have a D cup.
Ok … what do you think? Is this formula crazy? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
In my next post, I’ll share a formula for how to determine how much food is needed to maintain whatever “ideal” weight you choose for yourself.
Have a glorious day!
Pamela Reilly, Naturopath, CNHP, CNC, CPH
Good Works Wellness
http://goodworkswellness.com
If those of you in Indianapolis would like personal support in your fitness and weight loss journey, feel free to check out my Smart & Fit Program which starts in September: Smart & Fit Program
Those of you who know me know that I DO NOT consider weight to be a valid measure of health. However, many people are curious about what their “ideal” weight might be. We are inundated with pictures of rail-thin models, both male and female, who probably have to run around in the shower just to get wet. These images can make us think that abnormally low weights are healthy, which they often are not. The truth is that we each have a very unique ideal weight, and that it may change as as our lifestyle changes. My belief is that how we FEEL is far more important than how much we WEIGH. Most people begin to feel more energy and have a more positive outlook as a result of losing weight. Increasing exercise levels can often accomplish those things even if weight loss does not occur.
I’ve shared a formula below that provides a guideline … NOT an absolute. Again, please don’t get hung up on numbers. Merely use this formula to help you set your own goals related to weight loss. For instance, my “ideal” weight as a 5’6″ woman with a large frame is 140 lbs, a weight which many people would consider “heavy.” Because of my physical make-up, I can fit into a size 4 at a weight of 140. Obviously, everyone’s physical structure is unique, so use the formula that follows merely as a suggestion. I confess that I find it runs a bit thin, so please do not be alarmed at the number it delivers as your "ideal" weight. Take it with a grain of salt and focus on improving your overall health.
Body weight is dependent on a lot of different factors. Believe it or not, bone density, liver size and brain size can affect weight. (So, the next time someone says you’re overweight, just tell them you have a big brain.) The numbers are not as important as the physical and emotional effects your weight has on your outlook and attitude.
A very simple formula for calculating your ideal weight is:
Men: Add 6 pounds for every inch of height over 5 feet to a base weight of:
Small Frame: 110 lbs
Medium Frame: 115 lbs
Large Frame: 120 lbs
Women: Add 5 pounds for every inch of height over 5 feet to a base weight of:
Small Frame: 100 lbs
Medium Frame: 105 lbs
Large Frame: 110 lbs
*I modified the formula to include the following:
Women: Add 5 lbs of body weight if you have a C cup bra size; add 7 lbs if you have a D cup.
Ok … what do you think? Is this formula crazy? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
In my next post, I’ll share a formula for how to determine how much food is needed to maintain whatever “ideal” weight you choose for yourself.
Have a glorious day!
Pamela Reilly, Naturopath, CNHP, CNC, CPH
Good Works Wellness
http://goodworkswellness.com
If those of you in Indianapolis would like personal support in your fitness and weight loss journey, feel free to check out my Smart & Fit Program which starts in September: Smart & Fit Program
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The best thing about blogs, they just keep going
Sorry for the random title. I used this title as a celebration of the fact that I met my blogging goal two whole weeks in a row. Woo hoo! (Lame, I know, but bear with me.) This will be a short post. Longer posts with much more in-depth information will follow.
To keep this blog going and grabbing your attention, I would like to ask you to share what topics interest you. Do you have health issues you'd like to see covered? Do you battle with bad eating habits? Are hormonal imbalances driving you crazy? Are you ready to conquer your thyroid gland? What information can I share that will bless and benefit you? Please let me know!
I have a long list of potential topics lined up, but want you meet your needs. Please share your thoughts! Thanks so much! Have a glorious day!
To keep this blog going and grabbing your attention, I would like to ask you to share what topics interest you. Do you have health issues you'd like to see covered? Do you battle with bad eating habits? Are hormonal imbalances driving you crazy? Are you ready to conquer your thyroid gland? What information can I share that will bless and benefit you? Please let me know!
I have a long list of potential topics lined up, but want you meet your needs. Please share your thoughts! Thanks so much! Have a glorious day!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Diabetes & the Art of Motorcycle Riding
For some reason, the fact I have diabetes AND two X chromosomes causes people to respond with shock and amazement when they find out I own and ride a motorcycle. The reasons for this are a mystery to me, but the phenomenon is universal enough that I felt compelled to share some information about why there's no reason to be shocked that a female with diabetes rides a motorcycle and lives to tell about it. I'd also like to share some tips that will hopefully help others with diabetes step out of the box, buy a bike and start living in the fast lane!
Much of the information in this post is related to information shared in my post: How Motorcycle Riding Improves Health. Please read that if you need to prove to someone that riding a bike makes you healthier!
I see absolutely no reason why a diabetic should not ride motorcycle. However, folks with diabetes who want to travel on two wheels need to understand that they must ride responsibly and exercise caution. This includes ensuring they maintain blood sugars at normal levels. People with diabetes obviously need to check their sugar before riding. I recommend eating a snack including one or two servings of carbohydrates and at least one serving of protein prior to riding (without taking any additional insulin) to help prevent unexpected low glucose levels. A rider with diabetes should always travel with a fast-acting source of glucose such as fruit juice, glucose tablets, a banana, etc. It's that simple. Diabetics should never be without a source of glucose, anyway, so packing a snack is plain ol' common sense. It is also wise to carry a form of protein, such as nuts or a nut butter, to help maintain sugars at a stable level.
The most important factor to remember is that riding a motorcycle requires greater physical exertion than driving a car. Because of that, diabetics who ride may discover they need far less insulin or medication and/or need to eat more when they ride. I find I'm able to turn my insulin pump completely off on the days I ride long distances. This is a wonderful additional perk to riding! The increased physical exertion, which borders on a mild form of exercise, also increases insulin sensitivity for 8-12 hours, further adding to the health benefits of riding a motorcycle. I've learned to eat some carbs and protein before I ride and to turn down the basal rate on my pump (or turn it off entirely) to avoid an unexpected low while I'm on the road. I've also learned that if I kill the bike when starting from a stop light, I need to pull over and check my sugar immediately. That simple indicator that my reflexes may not be at 100% is worth paying attention to!
The amount of insulin I use on the days I ride long distances is often 1/2-1/4 what I use on a normal day. This means that riding a motorcycle boosts my mood, increases life satisfaction, is more fun than words can describe, and improves my health! It just doesn't get any better than that. Regardless of how many wheels you choose to travel on, be smart, travel safe, and live abundantly!
I see absolutely no reason why a diabetic should not ride motorcycle. However, folks with diabetes who want to travel on two wheels need to understand that they must ride responsibly and exercise caution. This includes ensuring they maintain blood sugars at normal levels. People with diabetes obviously need to check their sugar before riding. I recommend eating a snack including one or two servings of carbohydrates and at least one serving of protein prior to riding (without taking any additional insulin) to help prevent unexpected low glucose levels. A rider with diabetes should always travel with a fast-acting source of glucose such as fruit juice, glucose tablets, a banana, etc. It's that simple. Diabetics should never be without a source of glucose, anyway, so packing a snack is plain ol' common sense. It is also wise to carry a form of protein, such as nuts or a nut butter, to help maintain sugars at a stable level.
The most important factor to remember is that riding a motorcycle requires greater physical exertion than driving a car. Because of that, diabetics who ride may discover they need far less insulin or medication and/or need to eat more when they ride. I find I'm able to turn my insulin pump completely off on the days I ride long distances. This is a wonderful additional perk to riding! The increased physical exertion, which borders on a mild form of exercise, also increases insulin sensitivity for 8-12 hours, further adding to the health benefits of riding a motorcycle. I've learned to eat some carbs and protein before I ride and to turn down the basal rate on my pump (or turn it off entirely) to avoid an unexpected low while I'm on the road. I've also learned that if I kill the bike when starting from a stop light, I need to pull over and check my sugar immediately. That simple indicator that my reflexes may not be at 100% is worth paying attention to!
The amount of insulin I use on the days I ride long distances is often 1/2-1/4 what I use on a normal day. This means that riding a motorcycle boosts my mood, increases life satisfaction, is more fun than words can describe, and improves my health! It just doesn't get any better than that. Regardless of how many wheels you choose to travel on, be smart, travel safe, and live abundantly!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Simply Raw & Holograms ... Who Knew?
Hi, all! I have a couple quick announcements. For those who are familiar with the movie, "Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days," it is on sale right now for HALF OFF! You can view the information at:
Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days
For those who aren't familiar with the movie, it follows 6 diabetics as they follow the raw foods lifestyle for 30 days. The healing they experience is truly miraculous. Each of them gets off of all medications, has their blood sugars return to normal levels, and have many other health issues disappear in just 30 days of eating raw, living foods. My own story confirms that the raw foods lifestyle brings miraculous healing. I have dropped from using more than 70 units of insulin per day to using anywhere from 8-15. Because I've had diabetes for more than 45 years, my own healing will take more than 30 days, but that's ok! Since starting the raw foods lifestyle almost two years ago, I have experienced a multitude of other health benefits and miraculous healing. I now offer raw food coaching as part of my Naturopathic wellness practice due to my desire to share this healing potential with anyone and everyone.
The movie lasts about an hour and a half and is incredibly inspirational. I recommend that everyone share it with anyone who has diabetes or who has a family history. It is a life-changing experience!
And ... I also wanted to share information about a product that has brought wonderful benefits to my life. Please know I am sharing this information because I know many of you suffer from fatigue, poor sleep, or constant pain, conditions which this product can help with!
I recently began using holographic chips to gain energy. Although I was very skeptical at first, I am now a firm believer! The company, Cie Aura, is relatively new but bases their science on years of research. I've been using the chips called "Pure Energy" which claim to increase energy levels. I've found them to be amazingly effective. I've also used the "Pure Rest" chips to gain a good night's sleep, and the "Pure Relief" chips to get pain relief when needed. Every chip has worked incredibly well. I have also shared relevant chips with friends and family who had a need. The chips have worked every time.
The chips claim to have energetic frequencies stored in them which target the needed health issue. Holograms have the capacity to store the energy or information equivalent to that contained in 10 CDs, so the energetic potential of these chips is huge. As I said, I was skeptical when I heard about them, but am a firm believer now. After doing much research, I've come to appreciate the science that supports the effectiveness of these chips. You can learn more about them at: http://bit.ly/bdKd8C.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to receive additional information about either of these products. God bless you in your healing journey!
Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days
For those who aren't familiar with the movie, it follows 6 diabetics as they follow the raw foods lifestyle for 30 days. The healing they experience is truly miraculous. Each of them gets off of all medications, has their blood sugars return to normal levels, and have many other health issues disappear in just 30 days of eating raw, living foods. My own story confirms that the raw foods lifestyle brings miraculous healing. I have dropped from using more than 70 units of insulin per day to using anywhere from 8-15. Because I've had diabetes for more than 45 years, my own healing will take more than 30 days, but that's ok! Since starting the raw foods lifestyle almost two years ago, I have experienced a multitude of other health benefits and miraculous healing. I now offer raw food coaching as part of my Naturopathic wellness practice due to my desire to share this healing potential with anyone and everyone.
The movie lasts about an hour and a half and is incredibly inspirational. I recommend that everyone share it with anyone who has diabetes or who has a family history. It is a life-changing experience!
And ... I also wanted to share information about a product that has brought wonderful benefits to my life. Please know I am sharing this information because I know many of you suffer from fatigue, poor sleep, or constant pain, conditions which this product can help with!
I recently began using holographic chips to gain energy. Although I was very skeptical at first, I am now a firm believer! The company, Cie Aura, is relatively new but bases their science on years of research. I've been using the chips called "Pure Energy" which claim to increase energy levels. I've found them to be amazingly effective. I've also used the "Pure Rest" chips to gain a good night's sleep, and the "Pure Relief" chips to get pain relief when needed. Every chip has worked incredibly well. I have also shared relevant chips with friends and family who had a need. The chips have worked every time.
The chips claim to have energetic frequencies stored in them which target the needed health issue. Holograms have the capacity to store the energy or information equivalent to that contained in 10 CDs, so the energetic potential of these chips is huge. As I said, I was skeptical when I heard about them, but am a firm believer now. After doing much research, I've come to appreciate the science that supports the effectiveness of these chips. You can learn more about them at: http://bit.ly/bdKd8C.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to receive additional information about either of these products. God bless you in your healing journey!
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Wonders of Goldenseal
Hello! This post has moved to: http://goodworkswellness.com/the-wonders-of-goldenseal/. Please visit it there to see the complete article.
Many people have heard of the herb Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) but have little idea of the multitude of uses for this versatile herb. Goldenseal has been used throughout history as a medicinal herb, partly because of its amazing ability to stimulate the body’s own immunity. The bushy plant typically grows wild in rich soils. The Goldenseal plant has bright yellow flowers that produce a beautiful red oil when infused. Goldenseal is now an endangered species due to excessive wild harvesting. It should therefore only be purchased from companies who grow it and who do not wildcraft it ...
Many people have heard of the herb Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) but have little idea of the multitude of uses for this versatile herb. Goldenseal has been used throughout history as a medicinal herb, partly because of its amazing ability to stimulate the body’s own immunity. The bushy plant typically grows wild in rich soils. The Goldenseal plant has bright yellow flowers that produce a beautiful red oil when infused. Goldenseal is now an endangered species due to excessive wild harvesting. It should therefore only be purchased from companies who grow it and who do not wildcraft it ...
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Thyroid Hormones & Bone Marrow Biopsies
Sorry, all. I know I'm long overdue to post a blog that actually contains educational information about a natural health topic. This one does, but is being written primarily to allow me to vent a bit. Thanks for supporting me through this. I want to stress that I am very committed to treating myself and any health issues I may have using completely natural methods. Because of the natural supplements I have used for many years, my thyroid gland (which "died" in 1994) is regenerating and has begun producing hormones again. Unfortunately, my thyroid gland has not yet regenerated to the point that I can function without taking prescription thyroid hormones. Luckily, there are natural medications available via prescription. The most popular natural thyroid med, Armour Thyroid, disappeared off store shelves about four months ago, leaving approximately two million US thyroid patients unable to get this necessary medication.
The thyroid gland produces several different hormones, the most important being the T3 and T4 hormones. Mainstream thyroid medications such as Synthroid only contain the T4 hormone. Although most people's bodies easily convert T4 to T3, a large number of patients' bodies are unable to convert the T4 to T3. Mine is one of those bodies. The beauty of Armour Thyroid, which is made from desiccated thyroid glands of bovine origin, is that it provides the patient with both thyroid hormones. At my lowest point in my thyroid journey, I was on Synthroid but was almost bedridden due to crippling exhaustion. My neurological symptoms were so extreme that I was incorrectly diagnosed with MS three times. I had ballooned up to almost 200 pounds and was unable to function normally. All of these issues were caused because my body had too much T4 and almost zero T3. I had to go to four doctors before finding one willing to prescribe Armour. My symptoms disappeared after one month on Armour.
Then Armour disappeared.
I am blessed to live near a compounding pharmacy that can custom compound a medication very similar to Armour. I've now been on that med for about four months. The problem I'm experiencing is that the dose of Armour I was on when Armour disappeared was not the correct dose, so my current Endocrinologist and I are basically starting from scratch in figuring out what dosages I need of the T4 and T3 hormones. Among other issues, one of the side effects of having low thyroid levels for over 6 months is that my metabolism and my body's ability to digest and absorb protein have been negatively impacted. This has caused the iron level in my blood to be almost zero, a level deemed "impressive" by my doctor. Lucky me. In addition, my body is not producing normal amounts of several types of red blood cells, which naturally affects the oxygen content of my blood. I am counteracting this using an oxygenating product called Cell Food. I am also taking high doses of Hawthorne Berry to ensure my heart and circulatory system are working at the highest efficiency possible. I hate to think how badly I would feel if I did not eat an all-organic, whole food diet and if I were not using supplements to support my body.
I had another Endocrinology appointment today. My ferritin (a form of iron) levels are so low my doctor wanted to do a bone marrow biopsy to rule out much more severe issues. I refused. I went down that road twelve years ago during another phase of extreme thyroid issues. I appreciate my doctor's concern, but know that my blood count issues are all related to my current thyroid insufficiency. She didn't agree, but she hasn't received the same training or done the same research I have. I'm ok with that. Although my symptoms have been indicating that my thyroid levels are currently way too high, she found that my reflexes are all extremely slow, which is indicative of low hormone levels. My speech is also a bit slurred, also indicative of low levels.
She commented that she can't believe I'm working or even able to get out of bed with blood counts as low as mine. Lucky me, again. I didn't mention that I'm carrying a full practice load, still working as a consultant at a health food store, and still have four children, two dogs and a husband. LOL. Needless to say, getting out of bed is a challenge. Being tired is easily dealt with. The achiness, constant headache, bitchiness (forgive my use of the word ... it's the only one that works), brain fog, slurred speech, dizziness and skipped heart beats are a bit tougher to deal with, but I'm forging ahead. If I had my druthers, I'd probably spend all day every day wrapped in a quilt sleeping and watching old movies. That's just not an option for me. I've been pulling myself up by my bootstraps and doing what needs to be done every day. On my "off" days, I'm a bit of a slug. A really, really lazy slug.
My doc and I worked together to devise a plan which I'm confident will work. Instead of taking T3 and T4 combined in one capsule, she's going to phone in scripts for separate doses of T3 and T4. That will enable us to easily change the level of each. I will get blood work much more frequently so that we can keep much closer track of where my levels are.
My TSH level, which should never be above 4.5, is still in the high 70s. (That earned me another "impressive," LOL.) I'm confident all of my numbers will soon return to normal. Until then, I'm honestly thankful that God is allowing me to experience this. I know that what I'm going through is preparing me to help others with greater compassion, knowledge and wisdom. I'm looking forward to ending this lesson. :)
Thanks for letting me vent a bit. Take time today to give thanks for your health and live in a way that protects it!
The thyroid gland produces several different hormones, the most important being the T3 and T4 hormones. Mainstream thyroid medications such as Synthroid only contain the T4 hormone. Although most people's bodies easily convert T4 to T3, a large number of patients' bodies are unable to convert the T4 to T3. Mine is one of those bodies. The beauty of Armour Thyroid, which is made from desiccated thyroid glands of bovine origin, is that it provides the patient with both thyroid hormones. At my lowest point in my thyroid journey, I was on Synthroid but was almost bedridden due to crippling exhaustion. My neurological symptoms were so extreme that I was incorrectly diagnosed with MS three times. I had ballooned up to almost 200 pounds and was unable to function normally. All of these issues were caused because my body had too much T4 and almost zero T3. I had to go to four doctors before finding one willing to prescribe Armour. My symptoms disappeared after one month on Armour.
Then Armour disappeared.
I am blessed to live near a compounding pharmacy that can custom compound a medication very similar to Armour. I've now been on that med for about four months. The problem I'm experiencing is that the dose of Armour I was on when Armour disappeared was not the correct dose, so my current Endocrinologist and I are basically starting from scratch in figuring out what dosages I need of the T4 and T3 hormones. Among other issues, one of the side effects of having low thyroid levels for over 6 months is that my metabolism and my body's ability to digest and absorb protein have been negatively impacted. This has caused the iron level in my blood to be almost zero, a level deemed "impressive" by my doctor. Lucky me. In addition, my body is not producing normal amounts of several types of red blood cells, which naturally affects the oxygen content of my blood. I am counteracting this using an oxygenating product called Cell Food. I am also taking high doses of Hawthorne Berry to ensure my heart and circulatory system are working at the highest efficiency possible. I hate to think how badly I would feel if I did not eat an all-organic, whole food diet and if I were not using supplements to support my body.
I had another Endocrinology appointment today. My ferritin (a form of iron) levels are so low my doctor wanted to do a bone marrow biopsy to rule out much more severe issues. I refused. I went down that road twelve years ago during another phase of extreme thyroid issues. I appreciate my doctor's concern, but know that my blood count issues are all related to my current thyroid insufficiency. She didn't agree, but she hasn't received the same training or done the same research I have. I'm ok with that. Although my symptoms have been indicating that my thyroid levels are currently way too high, she found that my reflexes are all extremely slow, which is indicative of low hormone levels. My speech is also a bit slurred, also indicative of low levels.
She commented that she can't believe I'm working or even able to get out of bed with blood counts as low as mine. Lucky me, again. I didn't mention that I'm carrying a full practice load, still working as a consultant at a health food store, and still have four children, two dogs and a husband. LOL. Needless to say, getting out of bed is a challenge. Being tired is easily dealt with. The achiness, constant headache, bitchiness (forgive my use of the word ... it's the only one that works), brain fog, slurred speech, dizziness and skipped heart beats are a bit tougher to deal with, but I'm forging ahead. If I had my druthers, I'd probably spend all day every day wrapped in a quilt sleeping and watching old movies. That's just not an option for me. I've been pulling myself up by my bootstraps and doing what needs to be done every day. On my "off" days, I'm a bit of a slug. A really, really lazy slug.
My doc and I worked together to devise a plan which I'm confident will work. Instead of taking T3 and T4 combined in one capsule, she's going to phone in scripts for separate doses of T3 and T4. That will enable us to easily change the level of each. I will get blood work much more frequently so that we can keep much closer track of where my levels are.
My TSH level, which should never be above 4.5, is still in the high 70s. (That earned me another "impressive," LOL.) I'm confident all of my numbers will soon return to normal. Until then, I'm honestly thankful that God is allowing me to experience this. I know that what I'm going through is preparing me to help others with greater compassion, knowledge and wisdom. I'm looking forward to ending this lesson. :)
Thanks for letting me vent a bit. Take time today to give thanks for your health and live in a way that protects it!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Raving Thyroid
In the last two months, I've gained twenty pounds and started to have an eerie resemblance to the Michelin Man. This is not because I'm eating Snickers bars for every meal or because I've stopped working out. It's because my thyroid levels are severely imbalanced. It began because my body was healing rapidly, which meant I was on far too high a dosage of thyroid medication.
What happens when one hyperthyroidic, even due to over-medication? I'll spare you a long list of physical symptoms and will simply say that absolutely everything is affected. Mood, weight, energy level, sex drive, ability to deal with stress, hunger level, irritability, etc., etc., etc. In a word, hyperthyroidism is HELL on earth. (And I don't use that term lightly. I promise.) For six weeks I was trapped with a personality I didn't recognize. I was, to be quite honest, really mean and extremely irritable. Other people noticed. Those who love me were willing to forgive me; those who didn't took offense and became as much a stranger to me as I was to myself. Some of those relationships have been healed. Others could not be.
Once we realized my medication levels were far too high, my doctor and I worked together to find a lower dose that worked. It took a while, but I eventually enjoyed one beautiful week where I was myself again. No nasty temper, no irritability, same sense of humor, same loving outlook, and same joy I'd always known. This was short-lived, because the medication I was on was under attack by the FDA and was no longer available. I was able to find a replacement, but the formula is not the same. This resulted in having far too little medication. I therefore went from being severely hyperthyroidic to being severely hypothyroidic within the span of a few short weeks.
What I'm experiencing now can't even be described with the word "exhaustion," because it includes an energy void physically, mentally and emotionally. The one good thing that resulted from this is that my patience in traffic is greatly improved because I even drive slower than normal. In addition to that, my heart beat has dropped more than 30 beats per minute, I could sleep 24 hours a day and still be tired, I have overwhelming brain fog, and my body is not digesting the food I eat. This is because hypothyroidism has substantially slowed everything in my body, including circulation, digestion, nerve conductivity, metabolism, etc. I should add that the one thing that has not slowed down is weight gain, resulting in my current resemblance to the Michelin Man. I'm currently waiting on test results to find out how we can adjust my meds to get things back in balance. Unfortunately, in spite of using many natural remedies to help my thyroid gland continue healing itself, this is one case where a prescription med is required. Having to wait for my MD to make that decision is tough, but necessary.
I share this partially so that you'll understand why I've been out of sight lately and so that those who see me will understand why I'm so huge. I also share this as an encouragement to others. Thyroid issues affect every aspect of your life. If you suspect your thyroid levels are imbalanced, please get your blood levels of TSH, T3 and T4 checked immediately. You'll be amazed at the changes you'll feel once you get things back in balance. If you'd like help and advice on balancing your thyroid levels naturally, please feel free to contact me.
Until then, I'm off to try on more tents. Have a blessed night!
What happens when one hyperthyroidic, even due to over-medication? I'll spare you a long list of physical symptoms and will simply say that absolutely everything is affected. Mood, weight, energy level, sex drive, ability to deal with stress, hunger level, irritability, etc., etc., etc. In a word, hyperthyroidism is HELL on earth. (And I don't use that term lightly. I promise.) For six weeks I was trapped with a personality I didn't recognize. I was, to be quite honest, really mean and extremely irritable. Other people noticed. Those who love me were willing to forgive me; those who didn't took offense and became as much a stranger to me as I was to myself. Some of those relationships have been healed. Others could not be.
Once we realized my medication levels were far too high, my doctor and I worked together to find a lower dose that worked. It took a while, but I eventually enjoyed one beautiful week where I was myself again. No nasty temper, no irritability, same sense of humor, same loving outlook, and same joy I'd always known. This was short-lived, because the medication I was on was under attack by the FDA and was no longer available. I was able to find a replacement, but the formula is not the same. This resulted in having far too little medication. I therefore went from being severely hyperthyroidic to being severely hypothyroidic within the span of a few short weeks.
What I'm experiencing now can't even be described with the word "exhaustion," because it includes an energy void physically, mentally and emotionally. The one good thing that resulted from this is that my patience in traffic is greatly improved because I even drive slower than normal. In addition to that, my heart beat has dropped more than 30 beats per minute, I could sleep 24 hours a day and still be tired, I have overwhelming brain fog, and my body is not digesting the food I eat. This is because hypothyroidism has substantially slowed everything in my body, including circulation, digestion, nerve conductivity, metabolism, etc. I should add that the one thing that has not slowed down is weight gain, resulting in my current resemblance to the Michelin Man. I'm currently waiting on test results to find out how we can adjust my meds to get things back in balance. Unfortunately, in spite of using many natural remedies to help my thyroid gland continue healing itself, this is one case where a prescription med is required. Having to wait for my MD to make that decision is tough, but necessary.
I share this partially so that you'll understand why I've been out of sight lately and so that those who see me will understand why I'm so huge. I also share this as an encouragement to others. Thyroid issues affect every aspect of your life. If you suspect your thyroid levels are imbalanced, please get your blood levels of TSH, T3 and T4 checked immediately. You'll be amazed at the changes you'll feel once you get things back in balance. If you'd like help and advice on balancing your thyroid levels naturally, please feel free to contact me.
Until then, I'm off to try on more tents. Have a blessed night!
Why Bigger Isn't Better
I confess that I’ve now started this Thanksgiving blog post five or six times and then deleted what I'd written. I had lofty goals of writing a beautiful tribute to everything for which I'm thankful. (And let me say that I am not thankful for that silly rule about never ending a sentence with a preposition.) What I wound up with sounded either insipid and saccharine-y (and we all know my position on artificial sweeteners), or came across sounding oddly ungrateful. So, instead of being “normal” and writing a glowing homage to the many blessings that overflow in my life, I thought I’d write instead about why we should be thankful for the tiny things we often overlook. The end result is a list of questions related to situations I often hear people complain about. I'm sure none of you can relate to any of those situations (because you're far too noble), so feel free to share this post with someone who can.
Do you find it difficult to be thankful and give thanks for your daily to do list? Stop for a moment and give thanks that you even have a to do list. Many in this country no longer have a to do list because they were laid off or their company went under. Give thanks that you're overly busy, even if you hate your job. At least you have one.
Are you frustrated by your domestic duties and that no one else in the house helps? (Every mom knows what I'm talking about.) Be thankful you have a roof overhead requiring such chores. Then take a drive downtown and pay careful attention to the expressions on the faces of those standing outside missions waiting to get a bed. There are many who would love to have a place to call their own and to know where they’re going to sleep every night. Cleaning their own toilet would be a blessing to them.
Are you tired of the old tile and wallpaper in your bathroom? Give thanks that you have indoor plumbing. I’m serious about this one. When we lived in Mexico, we didn’t have indoor plumbing for a while. Every flush is a blessing to me now. If you're fed up because your kids used all the hot water, stop and be sincerely thankful that you have hot water. Again, I speak from personal experience. I’ve lived in two different countries where we didn’t have hot water. Cold showers suck in any language.
Are you feeling frustrated because a clerk or server or teacher isn’t being nice or treating you with respect? Give thanks that you’re not dealing with the pain that person is. There’s a reason they are so nasty. Be thankful you’re not carrying their burdens, then go out of your way to be nice to them. Big tips make a huge difference. Some day they'll appreciate your kindness.
Frustrated because your job or relationship is too confining? Be thankful you’re not in prison.
Frustrated by traffic and people who drive 10 miles under the speed limit? Me too. Get over it.
In all seriousness, stop taking the easy way out and giving thanks for the "big" blessings in your life. Start making an effort to notice and be sincerely grateful for the little blessings that abound in your life. Then make a conscious choice to be aware of them on a continual basis. You’ll soon find more blessings in your life than you thought possible. I dare you. Try it.
This post was written in support of the Epic Change organization. Please click here: http://epicchange.org/donate.php
Monday, June 22, 2009
Finding Physical Healing through Emotional Peace
As I travel down my personal healing road, I keep finding that much of my healing depends on my emotional state. I can see this very clearly on a daily basis. I also know that much of my cravings and desires to feed my mouth when my stomach isn't hungry are based on buried emotional issues and not on true physical needs. Addressing buried or unaddressed emotions can be very painful, but is necessary if we are to achieve true peace and healing on every level.
I've written before about the emotional detox that comes with transitioning to a healthier lifestyle, but it's a subject I think deserves much more attention. Please note that emotional detox can occur with any change that stimulates the body to heal. You cannot heal the body without affecting the mind. I choose to face my buried emotions head-on, deal with them, and put them completely behind me rather than allow them to continue festering under the surface. We can bury garbage to get it out of our sight, but it will still stink. Why not expose it and eliminate it?
I can attest that as I made huge changes to my dietary habits and moved to eating organic, whole foods, I experienced a period where buried emotions came to the surface. I had to learn to deal with them very quickly. In addition to prayer, talking to friends, etc., I used a technique called EFT: Emotional Freedom Technique. This technique uses a gentle tapping on different emotional trigger centers (psycho-acupressure points) of the body to help release pent-up emotions. You can read about it and learn how to use it for free at: http://www.emofree.com/.
The bottom line is that we each need to find a technique for acknowledging, addressing and releasing buried negativity and harmful emotions. Emotions such as bitterness, resentment, jealousy, anger and many others sap the peace and joy from our lives, relationships, spiritual walk, and our physical health. We MUST find a way to work through these emotions and to finally let go of them. For more info on techniques that can be used to help address emotional issues, please read my post on hypnosis, Dispelling the Myths of Hypnosis. If gratitude is an issue, please read this post that focuses on maintaining awareness of little blessings: Why Bigger Isn't Better.
Unfortunately, Western medicine tends to discount emotions when it comes to healing, in spite of multiple studies that proved a positive and hopeful mental outlook directly affects survival rates in terminal illnesses. It has also been proven that negative emotions raise blood pressure and blood sugar, alter hormonal balance, and make our body chemistry very acidic, which ultimately leads to inflammation and cell death. There is actually a physician in Germany (Dr. Hammer) who is using emotional release techniques to heal different cancers. Other physicians and practitioners have connected different physical ailments to specific negative emotions. We cannot separate body, mind and spirit. Each component of the wellness tripod directly affects the others. We must acknowledge that connection and address problems in our spiritual and emotional health if we wish to achieve perfect physical healing.
The following books contain techniques for releasing buried emotions and thought patterns interfering with daily life:
Feelings Buried Alive Never Die: http://tinyurl.com/n76zaa. This author uses a unique technique to release emotions. She also has a great index of the emotions that can cause a variety of physical ailments, diseases and conditions. It's very interesting and enlightening. This is one of my favorite books.
Love Now, Here's How: 26 Roadblocks to Healthy Relationships and How to Clear Them: http://tinyurl.com/kqejz9. Phyllis Light walks through 26 roadblocks that can hamper any relationship. Although her focus is on love relationships, these roadblocks can interfere with ANY relationship, including those with friends, co-workers, children, parents, relatives, etc. It took a lot of courage and honesty to read through each roadblock and admit to the ones that I deal with. Sometimes the simple act of recognizing an issue allows one to address and release it very quickly.
I highly recommend both books to anyone seeking spiritual and emotional peace as a means of achieving physical healing, growing closer to God, or healing relationships with others. Let's face it: physical, spiritual and emotional health cannot be separated!
Love to all! Thanks for being the awesome people you were designed to be!
I've written before about the emotional detox that comes with transitioning to a healthier lifestyle, but it's a subject I think deserves much more attention. Please note that emotional detox can occur with any change that stimulates the body to heal. You cannot heal the body without affecting the mind. I choose to face my buried emotions head-on, deal with them, and put them completely behind me rather than allow them to continue festering under the surface. We can bury garbage to get it out of our sight, but it will still stink. Why not expose it and eliminate it?
I can attest that as I made huge changes to my dietary habits and moved to eating organic, whole foods, I experienced a period where buried emotions came to the surface. I had to learn to deal with them very quickly. In addition to prayer, talking to friends, etc., I used a technique called EFT: Emotional Freedom Technique. This technique uses a gentle tapping on different emotional trigger centers (psycho-acupressure points) of the body to help release pent-up emotions. You can read about it and learn how to use it for free at: http://www.emofree.com/.
The bottom line is that we each need to find a technique for acknowledging, addressing and releasing buried negativity and harmful emotions. Emotions such as bitterness, resentment, jealousy, anger and many others sap the peace and joy from our lives, relationships, spiritual walk, and our physical health. We MUST find a way to work through these emotions and to finally let go of them. For more info on techniques that can be used to help address emotional issues, please read my post on hypnosis, Dispelling the Myths of Hypnosis. If gratitude is an issue, please read this post that focuses on maintaining awareness of little blessings: Why Bigger Isn't Better.
Unfortunately, Western medicine tends to discount emotions when it comes to healing, in spite of multiple studies that proved a positive and hopeful mental outlook directly affects survival rates in terminal illnesses. It has also been proven that negative emotions raise blood pressure and blood sugar, alter hormonal balance, and make our body chemistry very acidic, which ultimately leads to inflammation and cell death. There is actually a physician in Germany (Dr. Hammer) who is using emotional release techniques to heal different cancers. Other physicians and practitioners have connected different physical ailments to specific negative emotions. We cannot separate body, mind and spirit. Each component of the wellness tripod directly affects the others. We must acknowledge that connection and address problems in our spiritual and emotional health if we wish to achieve perfect physical healing.
The following books contain techniques for releasing buried emotions and thought patterns interfering with daily life:
Feelings Buried Alive Never Die: http://tinyurl.com/n76zaa. This author uses a unique technique to release emotions. She also has a great index of the emotions that can cause a variety of physical ailments, diseases and conditions. It's very interesting and enlightening. This is one of my favorite books.
Love Now, Here's How: 26 Roadblocks to Healthy Relationships and How to Clear Them: http://tinyurl.com/kqejz9. Phyllis Light walks through 26 roadblocks that can hamper any relationship. Although her focus is on love relationships, these roadblocks can interfere with ANY relationship, including those with friends, co-workers, children, parents, relatives, etc. It took a lot of courage and honesty to read through each roadblock and admit to the ones that I deal with. Sometimes the simple act of recognizing an issue allows one to address and release it very quickly.
I highly recommend both books to anyone seeking spiritual and emotional peace as a means of achieving physical healing, growing closer to God, or healing relationships with others. Let's face it: physical, spiritual and emotional health cannot be separated!
Love to all! Thanks for being the awesome people you were designed to be!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Using Green Smoothies to Control Blood Sugars
This blog post will soon appear as the final post in my guest blog series on Tami Groth's Green Smoothie Blog. My thanks go out to Tami for inviting me to share information on her blog!!
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Hello, again! This is Pamela Reilly again. I want to again thank Tami so much for inviting me to be a guest poster on her blog. Thanks, Tami! Today I want to follow-up on my post about the factors that separate a raw diabetic from other raw foodists with a post about foods and herbs that are traditionally known for helping control and lower blood sugars. I’ve included herbs because one of my favorite things about smoothies is that you can easily add herbs to them and never even know they’re there! Although this post is aimed primarily at diabetics, anyone can benefit from including these foods in your diet, as eating them can give your pancreas a rest and help keep it healthy. There is also some evidence that these foods can possibly help prevent the occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes. Each of these herbs and foods contain high levels of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids that anyone’s body will thank them for eating.
Note: This information is being shared purely for educational purposes. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and this information is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any disease. Use these foods with caution if you have Diabetes and do not make any major dietary changes without first consulting your healthcare practitioner.
Enough of the legal mumbo jumbo … let's get to it! Many of the foods and herbs that I’ll be discussing are useful for controlling blood sugars because they contain high amounts of the following natural elements:
=====================
Hello, again! This is Pamela Reilly again. I want to again thank Tami so much for inviting me to be a guest poster on her blog. Thanks, Tami! Today I want to follow-up on my post about the factors that separate a raw diabetic from other raw foodists with a post about foods and herbs that are traditionally known for helping control and lower blood sugars. I’ve included herbs because one of my favorite things about smoothies is that you can easily add herbs to them and never even know they’re there! Although this post is aimed primarily at diabetics, anyone can benefit from including these foods in your diet, as eating them can give your pancreas a rest and help keep it healthy. There is also some evidence that these foods can possibly help prevent the occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes. Each of these herbs and foods contain high levels of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids that anyone’s body will thank them for eating.
Note: This information is being shared purely for educational purposes. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and this information is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any disease. Use these foods with caution if you have Diabetes and do not make any major dietary changes without first consulting your healthcare practitioner.
Enough of the legal mumbo jumbo … let's get to it! Many of the foods and herbs that I’ll be discussing are useful for controlling blood sugars because they contain high amounts of the following natural elements:
- Acetic Acid: Found in vinegars, lemon and lime juices. Acetic acid slows down the digestion of food by neutralizing some digestive enzymes. This serves to delay the blood sugar raising effects of carbohydrates. I recommend using only small amounts of foods containing acetic acid, as you don’t want to “kill off” too many of your digestive enzymes during a meal.
- Chromium: Helps the body metabolize carbohydrates and fats; also helps the body utilize insulin. An added benefit of Chromium is that it has been shown to help with weight loss, and many people develop diabetes as a result of being. I currently use Chromium to help lower elevated blood sugars and can personally attest to its effectiveness. I’d much rather pop a couple of Chromium capsules (200 mg) than take a shot!
- Insulin Imitators (aka “Mimetics”): Several of the foods shown below are known as “insulin imitators” because the body uses them just like it does insulin. In other words, their action mimics what insulin does in the body.
- Magnesium: The body uses Magnesium to regulate blood sugar levels. It also helps the cells of the body utilize insulin, which can lower insulin resistance. Some studies have shown that Type 2 diabetics typically have low Magnesium levels. (Other studies have shown that 70% of the US population is deficient in Magnesium, so those Type 2’s have plenty of company!)
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Help the body metabolize glucose and also increase insulin sensitivity.
- Zinc: Essential for the body to produce and store insulin. Some studies have shown that Type 2 diabetics typically have low Zinc levels.
The following foods and herbs have a reputation for lowering or helping control glucose levels and/or for supporting the pancreas:
- Aloe Vera Juice: Contains high levels of compounds called Glyconutrients, which the body uses for healing. Glyconutrients have been shown to be helpful for a wide variety of health issues, but are known for being especially helpful for Diabetes. You can either use the interior gel from a fresh Aloe Vera leaf or can purchase Aloe Vera Juice in bottles. When purchasing Aloe Vera Juice, be careful to purchase one that does not contain chemicals and artificial ingredients. Be vigilant to avoid any containing artificial preservatives.
- Avocado: Increases insulin sensitivity and contains insulin imitators. The healthy fats in an Avocado also help delay the body’s absorption of glucose. I add an Avocado to every smoothie I make because it makes smoothies really creamy.
- Cinnamon and Coriander: Are insulin imitators, increase insulin sensitivity, and work in combination with insulin to improve its effectiveness. Cinnamon has also been shown to help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. So pour it on!
- Fenugreek: Helps delay the absorption of glucose by the body and also increases insulin sensitivity. The best way to get a healthy dose of Fenugreek is to sprout the seeds and use the sprouts in smoothies.
- Flax and Hemp Seeds: Very high in Omega 3 Fatty Acids and in fiber, which slows the body’s absorption of glucose.
- Ginger: Increases insulin sensitivity.
- Gymnema Sylvestre: An Ayurvedic (Indian) herb that is wonderful for Diabetes. It is an insulin imitator. More importantly, Gymnema has been shown to actually help the body regenerate the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Gymnema typically needs to be taken at least three months before beta cell regeneration is seen, but the regeneration rates are much higher and faster for anyone eating a raw food diet. Although Gymnema Sylvestre leaves can be purchased in a dried form from many herb vendors, I recommend taking it in capsule form or emptying the capsule(s) into your morning smoothie. Typical dosage is 400-1200 mg/day.
- Jerusalem Artichoke (aka “Sunchoke”): A type of sunflower that is very common in the Southwestern US. Is an insulin imitator and its high fiber content slows the body’s absorption of glucose. Jerusalem Artichokes are the roots of the plant and look kind of like Ginger roots. They have a light, almost sweet taste that reminds me of water chestnuts, and have a really nice light and crunchy texture. They work great in smoothies but can be hard to get broken down in a traditional blender. A Vita-Mix handles them without problem.
- Lemon and Lime Juices: Contain acetic acid (see above) which delays the glycemic effects of carbohydrates.
- Nopal Cactus (aka “Prickly Pear Cactus”): Nopal has a long history and tradition for use in addressing Diabetes issues. Nopal’s high fiber content delays the body’s absorption of glucose. Nopal also increases insulin sensitivity, is an insulin imitator, and may help regenerate pancreatic beta cells over time. The pads of the Nopal are typically used, although the fruits may also be helpful. You can typically find Nopal pads in Hispanic or international groceries. To use, scrape the thorns off with a knife, then dice to add to a smoothie. This is another food I use on a daily basis, so I know it works!!
- Nuts (especially Almonds, Pecans, Walnuts): High in Omega 3’s and other essential fatty acids. The healthy fats in nuts help delay the body’s absorption of glucose.
- Spirulina: High in Magnesium, protein (which helps keep blood sugars stable), and essential fatty acids. One more reason it’s a superfood!
- Stevia: Is not only the perfect sweetener for diabetics, but is also very high in Chromium and therefore supports the pancreas, too. It’s perfect!
Missing from this list is the “infamous” Bitter Melon, which looks like a leprous Cucumber and is a powerful insulin imitator. I spent a few days experimenting with Bitter Melon a while back and learned very quickly why they call it “bitter.” I couldn’t find any combination of vegetables or spices that covered the bitterness. Apparently the only way to get rid of the bitterness is to cook it, which simply wasn’t an option. I had half of a Bitter Melon left when I was done experimenting. I can’t stand to throw “good” food away, so I gave it to our dogs. (Please don’t report me to the ASPCA!) They wouldn't touch it and appeared rather suspicious of me for the rest of the day. This one’s best taken in capsules.
Following are a few easy-to-make, delicious smoothies that incorporate some of the above foods and supplements. I didn’t include instructions because I know you’re already proficient in the fine art of throwing ingredients into a Vita-Mix and turning it on. *grin* Please note that Stevia (to taste) is an optional ingredient in all of these smoothies if you like a sweeter taste.
Sugar Buster Smoothie
1 ounce Aloe Vera Juice (or 2 tablespoons fresh gel from leaf)
1 cup Purified Water or Unsweetened Nut Milk
1 Avocado
3 diced Jerusalem Artichokes
1 Cucumber
1 Nopal pad, diced
2 tablespoons cup Ground Flax or Hemp Seeds
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
½ teaspoon Coriander
Lemon Aid Ginger Smoothie
3 tablespoons – ½ cup Lemon or Lime Juice (add more if you like extra pucker power)
1 cup Unsweetened Hemp Milk
1 Avocado
½ teaspoon Fresh Ginger Root (¼ teaspoon dried)
1 Sweet Orange Pepper, diced
1 Sweet Red Pepper, diced
1 handful Fenugreek Sprouts
1 Nopal Pad, diced
Stevia to taste
Mega-Green Smoothie
¼ cup Spirulina Powder
1 handful Fenugreek Sprouts
1 Avocado
1 oz Aloe Vera Juice (or 2 tablespoons fresh gel from leaf)
1 cup Purified Water
4 Jerusalem Artichoke Bulbs, diced
2 Nopal pads, diced
1 Cucumber
Thanks again for Tami for allowing me to guest blog! Have a glorious day and go live abundantly!
Please feel free to contact me via any of the following:
My website: Good Works Wellness Research, LLC
Twitter: RawHealer
I'm very exciting to announce that in April I will be launching a 30-day "Rawvolutionary Healing" Living Foods Coaching program specifically designed for diabetics and others on Phase 1 of the Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine program. Please contact me if you'd like to receive updates on this program.
I'm also very excited to announce that I will be a speaker at Raw Spirit Fest in Prescott, Arizona. Raw Spirit Fests are two to three day festivals that celebrate every aspect of the raw food lifestyle. Please check out the website and come join me!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sorry for Being Incommunicado!
I owe everyone a huge apology for being MIA for almost two weeks. I do apologize! This has obviously been a very busy time. Most of my activities these days are related to spreading the message of the healing properties of raw foods. I LOVE spending my days helping others find renewed health!! Following is some of what I've been up to:
- On St. Patrick's Day, I had the privilege of speaking to the Indianapolis Office of Customs and Border Patrol on the environmental impacts of natural living. This was one of those opportunities that fell into my lap out of nowhere, and I am truly grateful it did. I had a great time sharing all the different ways our choices affect and impact the environment. It was so much fun! While there, I got to meet Renee, one of the founders of the Indy Green Piece organization. Indy Green Piece sends weekly emails sharing tips for living green and protecting the environment. You can view their website and sign up for their emails at http://www.greenpieceindy.com/blog. I highly recommend them!
- I am honored and privileged to have recently been a guest blogger on two different blogs:
Tami Groth's "Green Smoothie" blog: http://www.greensmoothieblog.com
and
Duong Sheahan's "Healthy Beauty Secrets" blog: http://www.healthybeautysecrets.com/2009/03/day-11-rawvolutionary-healing-pamela.html
My thanks go out to each of those very special women for including me in their blogs. Follow their blogs to be regularly blessed with important and inspiring information! - On March 19th I taught my favorite class, "The Raw Truth: Foundations of the Living Foods Lifestyle" at Georgetown Market in Indy. The participant group was incredible! They had many fantastic questions and it was obvious every person there was serious about going raw. It was amazing! Unfortunately, we kept the poor staff of Georgetown Market there far past quitting time. My thanks and apologies go out to Andrew & Crystal who had to stick around for so long. I'm repeating this class (and finishing much earlier!) on Thursday, March 26th, because the first class filled so quickly. I am blown away at how many people are interested in raw foods in Indy and hope to see the raw food movement really take off here!!
- As you probably know. my biggest passion is helping those with Diabetes make the switch to the living foods lifestyle so that they can reverse or better control their Diabetes. As part of those efforts, I am very active in the "Reverse Diabetes Naturally" forum at http://rdnmovement.ning.com. The forum is open to diabetics and supporters. Please come join us!
- In the midst of everything else, I continue to see private clients and to work as a consultant at Georgetown Market. I'm incredibly thankful to be surrounded by an amazing group of positive, inspiring people on a daily basis.
- I've also been working very hard on my new book, my 30-Day Rawvolutionary Healing Coaching Program that will launch in April, and on a multitude of other raw projects. As the saying goes, "no rest for the wicked!" LOL
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions! Have a blessed day and go live abundantly!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Raw Emotion Detoxification
I chose this blog topic because so many people get blindsided by the raw emotions that appear while transitioning to a living foods lifestyle. I'm frequently contacted by dear people who are shocked by unexpected negative emotions that interfere with the joy and peace that raw foods brought them. Be aware that you may experience an emotional and spiritual detoxification process very similar to the detox your physical body experienced.
As we continue incorporating higher levels of raw foods into our diets and continue eliminating toxic foods and habits, it is perfectly normal for "stuffed" emotions to surface. These negative emotions tend to catch us by surprise because they are typically emotions or habits that we chose to ignore or deny long ago. Although we were able to effectively avoid dealing with those uncomfortable emotions by stuffing them to a deeper level of consciousness, those emotions are still present in our emotional life and must be addressed so that we can move on in freedom. The emotional detoxification process is part of the joyous journey of the living foods lifestyle. Some people experience very little emotional detox, while others go through intense periods of soul searching and emotional healing. Remember that your personal journey will be perfect and unique.
Negative emotions that may surface could include bitterness, unforgiveness, frustration, anger, resentment, jealousy, feelings of worthlessness, etc. These emotions are poison to your emotional and physical health. Be ready for these old emotions to rear their ugly heads. As you increase the levels of healthy, raw foods in your diet, your brain will begin to "clean house" and you will gain mental and spiritual clarity that you may never have experienced before. Part of the cleansing process will include a cleansing of any toxic emotions that are impacting your physical and spiritual health. This cleansing is a beautiful, wonderful thing, but may not always be comfortable. All cleansing is good, so welcome and embrace any opportunities you receive to clean out musty thoughts and emotions that have been buried in the attic of your mind.
Give yourself permission to recognize old emotional baggage and to release it. Prayerfully ask God to reveal old emotional baggage and to help you address and release them. When negative emotions surface, try to determine where they came from. Ask yourself where the emotion came from and why you're holding onto it. Do you need to forgive someone who hurt you? Do you need to learn to be content? Take time to work through these issues. Find a friend who will lovingly help you talk through these issues. If you have deep issues from past hurts or abuse, find a professional counselor to help you work through the issues and find freedom.
As we continue incorporating higher levels of raw foods into our diets and continue eliminating toxic foods and habits, it is perfectly normal for "stuffed" emotions to surface. These negative emotions tend to catch us by surprise because they are typically emotions or habits that we chose to ignore or deny long ago. Although we were able to effectively avoid dealing with those uncomfortable emotions by stuffing them to a deeper level of consciousness, those emotions are still present in our emotional life and must be addressed so that we can move on in freedom. The emotional detoxification process is part of the joyous journey of the living foods lifestyle. Some people experience very little emotional detox, while others go through intense periods of soul searching and emotional healing. Remember that your personal journey will be perfect and unique.
Negative emotions that may surface could include bitterness, unforgiveness, frustration, anger, resentment, jealousy, feelings of worthlessness, etc. These emotions are poison to your emotional and physical health. Be ready for these old emotions to rear their ugly heads. As you increase the levels of healthy, raw foods in your diet, your brain will begin to "clean house" and you will gain mental and spiritual clarity that you may never have experienced before. Part of the cleansing process will include a cleansing of any toxic emotions that are impacting your physical and spiritual health. This cleansing is a beautiful, wonderful thing, but may not always be comfortable. All cleansing is good, so welcome and embrace any opportunities you receive to clean out musty thoughts and emotions that have been buried in the attic of your mind.
Give yourself permission to recognize old emotional baggage and to release it. Prayerfully ask God to reveal old emotional baggage and to help you address and release them. When negative emotions surface, try to determine where they came from. Ask yourself where the emotion came from and why you're holding onto it. Do you need to forgive someone who hurt you? Do you need to learn to be content? Take time to work through these issues. Find a friend who will lovingly help you talk through these issues. If you have deep issues from past hurts or abuse, find a professional counselor to help you work through the issues and find freedom.
Most of all, make every effort to take those negative thoughts into captivity and to replace them with new, healthy thought patterns and habits. When negative emotions surface, focus on scripture verses, positive affirmations, encouraging quotes, etc., to move away from the negativity and into peace. Celebrate your successes and learn from times of struggle. Each moment is precious. Live life abundantly and always seek to move forward! I welcome your comments. Please let me know how I can be praying for and with you.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Reaping a Harvest from Fruitless Smoothies
Hi, all. This post is very, very old but still contains great information. Please visit my new site to view much more information on natural healing: http://goodworkswellness.com.
Greetings!! This blog post is specifically for anyone out there who is seeking extreme healing and is therefore strictly adhering to Phase 1 of Gabriel Cousen's Rainbow Green Life Food Cuisine program. This post also contains valuable info for anyone who is trying to cut back on sugar and fruit to help fight Candida or blood sugar issues. Dr. Cousens' research has proven that greater healing and wellness occurs when folks eat minimal amounts of fruits and high-glycemic vegetables and limit their intake of mycotoxic foods. Mycotoxic foods are foods that contribute to Candida (yeast) overgrowth, cause acidic pH levels, and/or cause toxic poisons to develop in the bloodstream. Examples of mycotoxic foods include mushrooms, vinegar, etc. For my buddies with Diabetes, Dr. Cousens also describes Phase 1 in his book, There is a Cure for Diabetes. (I apologize for the spacing issues in this post. I've adjusted the HTML multiple times and am still having issues. I do apologize.)
Greetings!! This blog post is specifically for anyone out there who is seeking extreme healing and is therefore strictly adhering to Phase 1 of Gabriel Cousen's Rainbow Green Life Food Cuisine program. This post also contains valuable info for anyone who is trying to cut back on sugar and fruit to help fight Candida or blood sugar issues. Dr. Cousens' research has proven that greater healing and wellness occurs when folks eat minimal amounts of fruits and high-glycemic vegetables and limit their intake of mycotoxic foods. Mycotoxic foods are foods that contribute to Candida (yeast) overgrowth, cause acidic pH levels, and/or cause toxic poisons to develop in the bloodstream. Examples of mycotoxic foods include mushrooms, vinegar, etc. For my buddies with Diabetes, Dr. Cousens also describes Phase 1 in his book, There is a Cure for Diabetes. (I apologize for the spacing issues in this post. I've adjusted the HTML multiple times and am still having issues. I do apologize.)
So what does no fruit mean for those who rely on smoothies as a staple of their diet? It means you have ample opportunity to exercise creativity while creating delicious new recipes!! It IS possible to make creamy, great tasting smoothies without using fruit. My breakfast every morning is a delicious, all-vegetable, green smoothie that sticks to the Phase 1 guidelines. There are some days when I choose to have smoothies for all three meals so that my body needs less energy for digestion and can use that energy for additional healing. My daily smoothies not only provide huge amounts of energy, but also keep me feeling full until my next meal and beyond. Starting my day with any other food would be a tough adjustment for me. I've come to look forward to each day's new creation or to relish the chance to have old stand-bys that I've come to love.
Following are some guidelines you can use as a basis for creating wonderful fruit-free smoothies:
- Use sweet fruits such as yellow and red peppers, tomatoes, etc., to add natural sweetness to smoothies
- Add Avocado to make smoothies creamy and thick
- Use Stevia as a sweetener if needed
- Use neutral tasting veggies such as cucumbers and zucchini to add bulk to smoothies without adding a lot of taste
- Add dark leafy greens such as kale, spinach, etc., to increase the nutritional content of smoothies
- Use liquids such as the leftover soak water from sundried tomatoes or nuts, unsweetened nut or seed milks, or vegetable juices to add flavor, sweetness, and additional nutrition to smoothies
- Strategically add ingredients such as protein powders, green powders, superfoods including seaweeds, powdered greens, maca, raw cacao powder and others to add unique flavor and increase the nutritional content of smoothies.
Using those guidelines, you can create a multitude of uniquely delicious and nutritional smoothies. Your options are limitless! Please feel free to share your recipes.
Following are a few smoothie recipes I enjoy. Please let me know what you think of them!
Vitamineralicious Smoothie Delight
Ingredients:
1 Avocado, diced
1 Cucumber, diced
1 scoop Hemp Protein Powder
1 Tomato
1 Handful Kale or Spinach
1 tablespoon Organic Lemon Juice
1 Serving Trace Minerals or Green Superfood Powder
1 cup Raw Unsweetened Nut Milk
1/2 - 1 cup Purified Water (adjust amount to achieve desired thickness)
Stevia to taste (optional)
1 Cucumber, diced
1 scoop Hemp Protein Powder
1 Tomato
1 Handful Kale or Spinach
1 tablespoon Organic Lemon Juice
1 Serving Trace Minerals or Green Superfood Powder
1 cup Raw Unsweetened Nut Milk
1/2 - 1 cup Purified Water (adjust amount to achieve desired thickness)
Stevia to taste (optional)
Place ingredients in blender or VitaMix and blend well. Garnish with a few nut shavings if desired.
Red Light District Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 diced Tomatoes
1 diced Sweet Red Pepper
1-2 cup(s) Sun Dried Tomato Soak Water, purified water or organic tomato juice (adjust amount to achieve desired thickness)
1 Handful Red Leaf Lettuce
1 teaspoon organic Cinnamon
1 Avocado (optional)
Stevia to taste (optional)
1 diced Sweet Red Pepper
1-2 cup(s) Sun Dried Tomato Soak Water, purified water or organic tomato juice (adjust amount to achieve desired thickness)
1 Handful Red Leaf Lettuce
1 teaspoon organic Cinnamon
1 Avocado (optional)
Stevia to taste (optional)
Place ingredients in blender or VitaMix and blend well. Garnish with additional cinnamon.
Mock Raw Diabetic Chocolate Shake
Ingredients:
1 Avocado, diced
1/2 cup Raw Cacao Powder*
1-2 cup(s) Raw Unsweetened Nut Milk
Stevia to taste
1/2 cup Raw Cacao Powder*
1-2 cup(s) Raw Unsweetened Nut Milk
Stevia to taste
Place ingredients in blender or VitaMix and blend well. Garnish with a sprinkling of raw cacao powder.
* I don't recommend using raw cacao powder in excessive amounts, as it can be stimulating to some people. As an occasional treat, it is a great addition to smoothies.
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