Hopefully you will not fall for Splenda"s latest marketing blitz of a product you can bake with. No matter what the form or package, Splenda is far from healthy and I do not recommend using it at all. If you are currently using Splenda, or plan to in the future, I highly recommend that you read my past article The Potential Dangers of Sucralose to find out more about the hazards this "healthy" sweetener poses. You can also find out why one woman has compared it to a biochemical warfare agent.
The bottom line is don"t let these marketers fool you. There is no magic alternative to sugar when it comes to sweeteners. You simply cannot have your cake and eat it too when it comes to this area. It is far too early to tell just how much damage this newest sweetener will cause, as not enough people have consumed this product to observe large numbers of adverse effects.
However, I have had a number of patients in our Wellness Center who have had some severe migraines and possibly even seizures from consuming this product.
My advice?
AVOID Sucralose.
Here is a list of health problems associated with sucralose intake based on research with animals that sucralose marketers won"t tell you about:
•Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40 percent shrinkage)
•Enlarged liver and kidneys
•Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus
•Increased cecal weight
•Reduced growth rate
•Decreased red blood cell count
•Hyperplasia of the pelvis
•Extension of the pregnancy period
•Aborted pregnancy
•Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights
•Diarrhea
If you are looking for healthy alternatives to add to your cooking routine without sacrificing taste, you should consider using coconut oil. Coconut oil doesn"t contain any dangerous trans-fats, which are found in vegetable oils (including olive oil), margarine and shortening. Trans-fats can raise LDLs or "bad" cholesterol levels, which could lead to clogged arteries, heart disease, type-II diabetes and should be avoided.
Coconut oil also works as an excellent weight-loss aid because it actually speeds up the metabolism, which will cause your body to burn more calories in a day.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
The Dark side of America's Favorite Health Food Revealed
1. In terms of their effects on people‘s health, which of the soy food products on the market would you say are the worst?
The worst by far is soy formula because it‘s usually the only food nourishing the developing baby. Soy formula contains phytoestrogens that can disrupt the baby‘s thyroid, reproductive development and toxic levels of manganese that can cause neurological and brain damage associated with ADD/ADHD and violent tendencies. Babies on soy formula are also at higher risk for gastrointestinal damage, allergies, asthma, poor mineral absorption and lower intelligence. Although most patrons of health food stores know that it is important to breast feed, those who cannot often pick soy formula thinking it is the healthy choice. This choice is a formula for disaster. Contrary to popular belief, soy formula was never used traditionally in Asia.
For children and adults, the two worst product categories are soy protein products and soy oil. Unlike in Asia where people eat small amounts of whole soybean products, western food processors separate the soybean into two golden commodities--protein and oil. There‘s nothing safe or natural about this. Today‘s high-tech processing methods not only fail to remove the antinutrients and toxins that are naturally present in soybeans but leave toxic and carcinogenic residues created by the high temperatures, high pressure, alkali and acid baths and petroleum solvents.
The worst of today‘s soy protein products are soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate, texturized vegetable protein and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. We find these ingredients in everything from shake powders, energy bars and veggie burgers to canned tuna. The worst soy oil products are margarines and shortenings made from partially hydrogenated soybean oil containing dangerous trans fatty acids. Most of the liquid vegetable oils sold in supermarkets also come from the soybean. To make these bland enough for public acceptance, the oils are subjected to heavy refining, deodorizing and light hydrogenation.
The fact that soy protein enjoys an excellent reputation but soy oil has been disgraced has led to an interesting marketing split among class lines. Upscale "health conscious" consumers pay dearly for the supposedly beneficial soy protein products in health food and gourmet stores.
The masses, meanwhile, get the soy oil in the form of the deadly hydrogenated oils lurking in nearly every fast food or packaged product--from crackers, cookies and other baked goods to canned foods, frozen French fries and TV dinners. However, upscale soy products are trickling down as the word "soy" becomes associated in the popular mind with "healthy." Although average Americans still think of a "Fake Steak" as a "Misteak," they don‘t seem to mind the fact that the industry has slipped "invisible" soys into every supermarket food imaginable.
Provided that the prices are low and flavor and texture remain familiar, soy is now perceived as a "healthful" additive, a "plus value." Meanwhile, over in the upper crust neighborhoods, soy oil has begun feeding off soy protein‘s healthy reputation and is starting to pop up in goods sold to the health food crowd, and not all of it is in the unrefined, cold-pressed "healthy" form.
The product I‘m most concerned about, however, is soy milk. Not because it‘s the worst product out there, but because some people are drinking so much of it.
The Whole Soy Story
In The Whole Soy Story, you‘ll find:
•The real reasons why soy is NOT a health food
•Shocking personal accounts of real people whose health
and lives were put at risk from eating soy products
•Hard evidence linking soy to malnutrition, digestive
problems, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline,
reproductive disorders, immune system breakdowns--even
heart disease and cancer
•That soy has NEVER been proven safe, and learn the
truth about how misleading propaganda played a huge
role in how it became so popular in America
Read More About The Whole Soy Story Now!
2. How did soy, once a fringe product, end up being thought of as a "disease-preventive panacea"?
For years, the market for soy foods was limited. Americans not only loathed the beany taste and gas-producing effects of soy but thought of soy foods as "hippie foods," "poverty foods" or specialty foods for vegetarians. That presented a problem to the industry, which had lots of soy protein left over from soy oil production and nowhere to sell it. After all, they could only feed so much to animals before they rolled over with serious health problems. In order to make a good profit selling soy protein as a "people feed," the industry needed to make people want to eat it and to pay well for the privilege.
As a top gun marketer hired by the soy industry explained in 1975, "The quickest way to gain product acceptability in the less affluent society is to have the product consumed on its own merit by a more affluent society." Heightening consumer awareness of "health benefits" has done the trick. Millions of soy industry dollars have gone into funding "checkbook" medical research, sponsoring symposia, establishing FDA health claims and influencing of key dietitians and journalists. The campaign has led to a lot of soy hype, high hopes and higher profits.
3. With soy being added to so many U.S. food products (soy protein isolate, soybean oil, etc.) what advice do you have for consumers who are looking to avoid soy, but don‘t know where to start?
It‘s a real challenge, especially for those with soy allergies. But it‘s also an opportunity for us to make optimum food choices. The best--and maybe the only--way to completely avoid soy in the food supply is to buy whole foods and prepare them ourselves. For those who prefer to buy readymade and packaged products, I offer a free Special Report, "Where the Soys Are," on my Web site. It lists the many "aliases" that soy might be hiding under in ingredient lists--words like "boullion," "natural flavor" and "textured plant protein."
In addition, I‘d like to share some good news. Help for the American consumer comes in January 2006 when the Food Allergen and Labeling and Consumer Protection Act goes into effect. The law requires food manufacturers to clearly state whether a product contains any of the top eight allergens--milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat or soy, and it requires the FDA to conduct inspections to ensure that manufacturers comply with practices to reduce or eliminate cross contamination with any major food allergens that are not intentional ingredients of a food. We have this new law thanks to the Food Allergy Initiative, a New York-based non-profit organization.
4. Many Americans are convinced that soy is the "cure-all" for heart disease, menopause symptoms, high cholesterol and more. What would you say to this large group of the population who still believe soy is a health food?
In general, we should be cautious about thinking of any food as a "miracle food"--especially ones being heavily promoted by the very food manufacturers who stand to benefit. We hear so many wonderful things about soy, but people need to remember that the possible benefits are outweighed by proven risks. Thousands of epidemiological, laboratory and clinical studies link soy to malnutrition, digestive problems, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders, immune system breakdown, even heart disease and cancer.
While it is certainly possible that several components of the soybean might be successfully developed into useful pharmaceutical drugs, it is inappropriate for the soy industry to recommend that the entire population of men, women and children self-medicate by eating massive amounts of soy foods. The public has not been properly warned that soy can have many side effects, that it is a substance that could be helpful in one stage of the life cycle but harmful in another and that dietary estrogens can interact cumulatively or exponentially with environmental estrogens.
5. What was your motivation for writing The Whole Soy Story?
Years ago I was excited about the claims being made for soy. The possibility that a simple, inexpensive food could prevent heart disease, fight cancer, fan away hot flashes, and build strong bodies in far more than 12 ways was seductive. The hype, however, did not match the reality of the many sick, soy-eaters that I saw in my life. At ashrams, I talked to vegetarians who waxed enthusiastic about their enlightened diets but who complained about loss of energy, "brain fog," thinning hair, gray skin, weight gain and gas.
When I taught classes, I met health-conscious professionals who came to me confused and frustrated because they had been advised to eat soy but felt worse than they had ever felt in their lives. As a nutritionist, I worked with many clients whose health improved dramatically after removing soy foods from their diets. These observations led me to question everything I‘d ever heard or read about soy and to research the subject for myself.
6. Which types of soy are acceptable? Aren‘t some types of fermented soy (natto, tempeh, miso) healthy?
I personally eat old-fashioned fermented soy products such as miso, tempeh, natto, shoyu and tamari and believe they can be healthy in the context of a varied diet. Tofu is a precipitated product and less healthy, but I still enjoy it occasionally at vegetarian potlucks. Edamame--the green immature soybeans--contains fewer of the toxins found in the mature beans and so can be eaten occasionally. People who are not allergic or sensitized to soy can consume these whole soy products safely at the levels eaten traditionally in Asia, which is to say in small amounts as condiments, not staples.
Soy sprouts, by the way, are not healthy. Short-term germination increases the strength of soy‘s antinutrient fractions. In contrast, long-term sprouting plus fermentation will decrease and nearly eliminate them. Soy sprouts are mentioned in historical accounts as useful, sometime pharmaceuticals, not as a daily food.
7. You say in The Whole Soy Story that soy has never been proven safe and can cause irreversible harm to people‘s health. What are some of the most serious side effects that can result from this food?
I hesitate to use words like "irreversible" or "incurable." Adults who have been harmed by soy foods have a good chance of restoring their health if they remove all soy and other estrogenic foods from their diets, switch to a varied, organic omnivorous diet and use appropriate supplements as recommended by a wise doctor, nutritionist or other health professional. I most often see thyroid damage, infertility, menstrual problems, loss of sex drive, hair loss and digestive problems.
It‘s the damage from soy formula that may be irreversible. A crucial time for the programming of the human reproductive system is right after birth--the very time when many non-breastfed babies get bottle after bottle of soy formula. Normally during this period, the baby‘s body surges with natural estrogens, testosterone and other hormones needed to program the newborn‘s reproductive system to mature from infancy through puberty and into adulthood.
For infants on soy formula, the programming may be disturbed or interrupted. The phytoestrogens in soy formula--the isoflavones--bear a strong resemblance to the natural estrogens produced by the human body as well as to the synthetic estrogens found in contraceptive pills. Strictly speaking, soy estrogens are not hormones but "estrogen mimickers," but the bottom line is that human body mistakes them for hormones. Little boys who are estrogenized in this way may experience delayed or arrested puberty. Little girls who are overly estrogenized may go through premature puberty. We have many tragic stories.
8. What was the most shocking piece of information you learned while writing or researching The Whole Soy Story?
I began my research thinking there would be pros and cons to soy. Instead, I found overwhelming evidence of harm. I was startled by the sheer number of buried studies that needed to come to light, by the flagrant misrepresentation of data and the soy industry‘s talent for "spinning" unfavorable results. Right now, the FDA is seriously considering a soy- protein-prevents-cancer health claim as proposed by the Solae Company. The idea that the FDA could even consider soy for a cancer health claim is ludicrous on the face of it.
Soy isoflavones--the plant estrogens in soy most often credited with cancer prevention--are listed as "carcinogens "in many toxicology textbooks. They have also been proven to be mutagenic, clastogenic and teratogenic. Recent studies have even shown that soy accelerates the growth of breast cancer. Yet Solae stated that there is a "consensus among experts qualified by scientific training and experience" that "soy protein products reduce the risk of certain cancers." This is so shockingly untrue that I joined Sally Fallon and Bill Sanda of the Weston A. Price Foundation to file two protest documents with the FDA. The FDA has delayed its decision and we will meet with them this spring.
9. For those who currently include soy as a major protein in their diet, what foods would you suggest they use to replace the soy?
I strongly recommend a varied, omnivorous diet such as found in Nourishing Traditions and Eat Fat/Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig, and in Dr. Mercola‘s books and Web site. If people wish to remain vegetarians, I would recommend clean, raw, whole dairy products and eggs from free-range hens. Those who rely on nuts and beans for protein should be sure to soak them to deactivate phytates and other antinutrients and to make them more digestible an assimilable.
10. Do you have plans to write another book?
I am working on Whole Soy Stories, a sequel that will include true soy stories and the steps taken by men, women and children who have successfully recovered from the health problems caused by soy. I want to hear from the public and also from doctors and other health practitioners who are developing--or have developed--protocols for clients suffering from soy-induced thyroid disease, infertility, cognitive decline, cancer or other health problems. Please share your stories at www.wholesoystory.com.
The worst by far is soy formula because it‘s usually the only food nourishing the developing baby. Soy formula contains phytoestrogens that can disrupt the baby‘s thyroid, reproductive development and toxic levels of manganese that can cause neurological and brain damage associated with ADD/ADHD and violent tendencies. Babies on soy formula are also at higher risk for gastrointestinal damage, allergies, asthma, poor mineral absorption and lower intelligence. Although most patrons of health food stores know that it is important to breast feed, those who cannot often pick soy formula thinking it is the healthy choice. This choice is a formula for disaster. Contrary to popular belief, soy formula was never used traditionally in Asia.
For children and adults, the two worst product categories are soy protein products and soy oil. Unlike in Asia where people eat small amounts of whole soybean products, western food processors separate the soybean into two golden commodities--protein and oil. There‘s nothing safe or natural about this. Today‘s high-tech processing methods not only fail to remove the antinutrients and toxins that are naturally present in soybeans but leave toxic and carcinogenic residues created by the high temperatures, high pressure, alkali and acid baths and petroleum solvents.
The worst of today‘s soy protein products are soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate, texturized vegetable protein and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. We find these ingredients in everything from shake powders, energy bars and veggie burgers to canned tuna. The worst soy oil products are margarines and shortenings made from partially hydrogenated soybean oil containing dangerous trans fatty acids. Most of the liquid vegetable oils sold in supermarkets also come from the soybean. To make these bland enough for public acceptance, the oils are subjected to heavy refining, deodorizing and light hydrogenation.
The fact that soy protein enjoys an excellent reputation but soy oil has been disgraced has led to an interesting marketing split among class lines. Upscale "health conscious" consumers pay dearly for the supposedly beneficial soy protein products in health food and gourmet stores.
The masses, meanwhile, get the soy oil in the form of the deadly hydrogenated oils lurking in nearly every fast food or packaged product--from crackers, cookies and other baked goods to canned foods, frozen French fries and TV dinners. However, upscale soy products are trickling down as the word "soy" becomes associated in the popular mind with "healthy." Although average Americans still think of a "Fake Steak" as a "Misteak," they don‘t seem to mind the fact that the industry has slipped "invisible" soys into every supermarket food imaginable.
Provided that the prices are low and flavor and texture remain familiar, soy is now perceived as a "healthful" additive, a "plus value." Meanwhile, over in the upper crust neighborhoods, soy oil has begun feeding off soy protein‘s healthy reputation and is starting to pop up in goods sold to the health food crowd, and not all of it is in the unrefined, cold-pressed "healthy" form.
The product I‘m most concerned about, however, is soy milk. Not because it‘s the worst product out there, but because some people are drinking so much of it.
The Whole Soy Story
In The Whole Soy Story, you‘ll find:
•The real reasons why soy is NOT a health food
•Shocking personal accounts of real people whose health
and lives were put at risk from eating soy products
•Hard evidence linking soy to malnutrition, digestive
problems, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline,
reproductive disorders, immune system breakdowns--even
heart disease and cancer
•That soy has NEVER been proven safe, and learn the
truth about how misleading propaganda played a huge
role in how it became so popular in America
Read More About The Whole Soy Story Now!
2. How did soy, once a fringe product, end up being thought of as a "disease-preventive panacea"?
For years, the market for soy foods was limited. Americans not only loathed the beany taste and gas-producing effects of soy but thought of soy foods as "hippie foods," "poverty foods" or specialty foods for vegetarians. That presented a problem to the industry, which had lots of soy protein left over from soy oil production and nowhere to sell it. After all, they could only feed so much to animals before they rolled over with serious health problems. In order to make a good profit selling soy protein as a "people feed," the industry needed to make people want to eat it and to pay well for the privilege.
As a top gun marketer hired by the soy industry explained in 1975, "The quickest way to gain product acceptability in the less affluent society is to have the product consumed on its own merit by a more affluent society." Heightening consumer awareness of "health benefits" has done the trick. Millions of soy industry dollars have gone into funding "checkbook" medical research, sponsoring symposia, establishing FDA health claims and influencing of key dietitians and journalists. The campaign has led to a lot of soy hype, high hopes and higher profits.
3. With soy being added to so many U.S. food products (soy protein isolate, soybean oil, etc.) what advice do you have for consumers who are looking to avoid soy, but don‘t know where to start?
It‘s a real challenge, especially for those with soy allergies. But it‘s also an opportunity for us to make optimum food choices. The best--and maybe the only--way to completely avoid soy in the food supply is to buy whole foods and prepare them ourselves. For those who prefer to buy readymade and packaged products, I offer a free Special Report, "Where the Soys Are," on my Web site. It lists the many "aliases" that soy might be hiding under in ingredient lists--words like "boullion," "natural flavor" and "textured plant protein."
In addition, I‘d like to share some good news. Help for the American consumer comes in January 2006 when the Food Allergen and Labeling and Consumer Protection Act goes into effect. The law requires food manufacturers to clearly state whether a product contains any of the top eight allergens--milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat or soy, and it requires the FDA to conduct inspections to ensure that manufacturers comply with practices to reduce or eliminate cross contamination with any major food allergens that are not intentional ingredients of a food. We have this new law thanks to the Food Allergy Initiative, a New York-based non-profit organization.
4. Many Americans are convinced that soy is the "cure-all" for heart disease, menopause symptoms, high cholesterol and more. What would you say to this large group of the population who still believe soy is a health food?
In general, we should be cautious about thinking of any food as a "miracle food"--especially ones being heavily promoted by the very food manufacturers who stand to benefit. We hear so many wonderful things about soy, but people need to remember that the possible benefits are outweighed by proven risks. Thousands of epidemiological, laboratory and clinical studies link soy to malnutrition, digestive problems, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders, immune system breakdown, even heart disease and cancer.
While it is certainly possible that several components of the soybean might be successfully developed into useful pharmaceutical drugs, it is inappropriate for the soy industry to recommend that the entire population of men, women and children self-medicate by eating massive amounts of soy foods. The public has not been properly warned that soy can have many side effects, that it is a substance that could be helpful in one stage of the life cycle but harmful in another and that dietary estrogens can interact cumulatively or exponentially with environmental estrogens.
5. What was your motivation for writing The Whole Soy Story?
Years ago I was excited about the claims being made for soy. The possibility that a simple, inexpensive food could prevent heart disease, fight cancer, fan away hot flashes, and build strong bodies in far more than 12 ways was seductive. The hype, however, did not match the reality of the many sick, soy-eaters that I saw in my life. At ashrams, I talked to vegetarians who waxed enthusiastic about their enlightened diets but who complained about loss of energy, "brain fog," thinning hair, gray skin, weight gain and gas.
When I taught classes, I met health-conscious professionals who came to me confused and frustrated because they had been advised to eat soy but felt worse than they had ever felt in their lives. As a nutritionist, I worked with many clients whose health improved dramatically after removing soy foods from their diets. These observations led me to question everything I‘d ever heard or read about soy and to research the subject for myself.
6. Which types of soy are acceptable? Aren‘t some types of fermented soy (natto, tempeh, miso) healthy?
I personally eat old-fashioned fermented soy products such as miso, tempeh, natto, shoyu and tamari and believe they can be healthy in the context of a varied diet. Tofu is a precipitated product and less healthy, but I still enjoy it occasionally at vegetarian potlucks. Edamame--the green immature soybeans--contains fewer of the toxins found in the mature beans and so can be eaten occasionally. People who are not allergic or sensitized to soy can consume these whole soy products safely at the levels eaten traditionally in Asia, which is to say in small amounts as condiments, not staples.
Soy sprouts, by the way, are not healthy. Short-term germination increases the strength of soy‘s antinutrient fractions. In contrast, long-term sprouting plus fermentation will decrease and nearly eliminate them. Soy sprouts are mentioned in historical accounts as useful, sometime pharmaceuticals, not as a daily food.
7. You say in The Whole Soy Story that soy has never been proven safe and can cause irreversible harm to people‘s health. What are some of the most serious side effects that can result from this food?
I hesitate to use words like "irreversible" or "incurable." Adults who have been harmed by soy foods have a good chance of restoring their health if they remove all soy and other estrogenic foods from their diets, switch to a varied, organic omnivorous diet and use appropriate supplements as recommended by a wise doctor, nutritionist or other health professional. I most often see thyroid damage, infertility, menstrual problems, loss of sex drive, hair loss and digestive problems.
It‘s the damage from soy formula that may be irreversible. A crucial time for the programming of the human reproductive system is right after birth--the very time when many non-breastfed babies get bottle after bottle of soy formula. Normally during this period, the baby‘s body surges with natural estrogens, testosterone and other hormones needed to program the newborn‘s reproductive system to mature from infancy through puberty and into adulthood.
For infants on soy formula, the programming may be disturbed or interrupted. The phytoestrogens in soy formula--the isoflavones--bear a strong resemblance to the natural estrogens produced by the human body as well as to the synthetic estrogens found in contraceptive pills. Strictly speaking, soy estrogens are not hormones but "estrogen mimickers," but the bottom line is that human body mistakes them for hormones. Little boys who are estrogenized in this way may experience delayed or arrested puberty. Little girls who are overly estrogenized may go through premature puberty. We have many tragic stories.
8. What was the most shocking piece of information you learned while writing or researching The Whole Soy Story?
I began my research thinking there would be pros and cons to soy. Instead, I found overwhelming evidence of harm. I was startled by the sheer number of buried studies that needed to come to light, by the flagrant misrepresentation of data and the soy industry‘s talent for "spinning" unfavorable results. Right now, the FDA is seriously considering a soy- protein-prevents-cancer health claim as proposed by the Solae Company. The idea that the FDA could even consider soy for a cancer health claim is ludicrous on the face of it.
Soy isoflavones--the plant estrogens in soy most often credited with cancer prevention--are listed as "carcinogens "in many toxicology textbooks. They have also been proven to be mutagenic, clastogenic and teratogenic. Recent studies have even shown that soy accelerates the growth of breast cancer. Yet Solae stated that there is a "consensus among experts qualified by scientific training and experience" that "soy protein products reduce the risk of certain cancers." This is so shockingly untrue that I joined Sally Fallon and Bill Sanda of the Weston A. Price Foundation to file two protest documents with the FDA. The FDA has delayed its decision and we will meet with them this spring.
9. For those who currently include soy as a major protein in their diet, what foods would you suggest they use to replace the soy?
I strongly recommend a varied, omnivorous diet such as found in Nourishing Traditions and Eat Fat/Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig, and in Dr. Mercola‘s books and Web site. If people wish to remain vegetarians, I would recommend clean, raw, whole dairy products and eggs from free-range hens. Those who rely on nuts and beans for protein should be sure to soak them to deactivate phytates and other antinutrients and to make them more digestible an assimilable.
10. Do you have plans to write another book?
I am working on Whole Soy Stories, a sequel that will include true soy stories and the steps taken by men, women and children who have successfully recovered from the health problems caused by soy. I want to hear from the public and also from doctors and other health practitioners who are developing--or have developed--protocols for clients suffering from soy-induced thyroid disease, infertility, cognitive decline, cancer or other health problems. Please share your stories at www.wholesoystory.com.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Dear Readers - July 7, 2009
Ultimately, it is not just being mindful of our surroundings and what we are putting into or speaking out from our bodies, but more importantly, being mindful of our thoughts. Dr. David Hawkins in his newest book, Healing and Recovery, makes the point over and over that the mind trumps the body. In other words, the body mirrors what is going on in the mind--not the other way around. Adding impecability to mindfulness keeps us on that straight and narrow path to perfect health, a joyous mind, and ultimately Self-realization. That Path is a path of Service--to self and the reflections of Self, Others. Our family, friends and associates are all mirroring our thoughts, intentions and circumstances. So, change your mind, change your life.
The above is a reflection of what I have done lately to open my mind and life to greater abundance and the funneling in of more fun and joyful moments. There is nothing so good as being a part of another's successes and at the same time succeeding yourself.
Recently an opportunity came my way that made me re-think some decisions I had made long ago. As many of you know, I had been very active in several forms of "network marketing," and had gotten burned to the point where I simply said "no" automatically to any offers to "join" new networks. I would say I was even "hardcore" about never doing it ever again.
Well, this has changed. It has changed because for the first time in 10 years, I discovered a company with a great product and an even better compensation program. One where easily everyone can win, not just the top few on a heap of back-slapping pretenders. That may sound harsh, but my experiences were the worst of the worst. That said, no kidding, my mind is open to a energy drink club that can change your world and the people you care about the most.Take 12 minutes to listen and view this video, as I did. Here is my personal phone line: 503-526-8893. If you get the receptionist, that means I am on the line with the next enrollment. Just leave a message and I will call you back. As a company, we know and have experienced the power of online social networking. It works, it's real, and we are onboard, making the power of 3 work for us and for any of you having the same desire to create financial freedom a part of your future.
Until next time...
In vibrant health,
Shay Arave
President
Subtle Energy Solutions
ShaysWays.com
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Full Buck Moon
Full Buck Moon
By Tara Sutphen
The Full Buck Moon at 15* Capricorn will culminate at July 7, 2009 6.23am PST/Prenumbral Lunar Eclipse will culminate 6.40am PST. This is a month to find your strength and steadiness, time to move drama or chaos into workable solutions. What has been out of control has practical ways toward a resolution. No need to hold on to "how things won't change" or "standing by, expecting people to treat you right", gain a foothold, start moving in a direction that best suits the security and the peacefulness of your life. The eclipse is unseen by the naked eye this time, the sun is too far away and only shadows a quarter of the moon. Lunar eclipses are about something going out of your life at this time, it could be hardly noticeable or it could be something that you haven't been paying attention to, but needs your immediate attention to rectify. It's time to observe your actions and reactions. How are you interpreting confusion and commotion. Do you wait until it subsides or do you actively seek clarification and order. Move to dissipate bigger problems and obstructions. The time on the planet is your time, you have the power and ability to change the things that seem impossible. Trust yourself. Call in your sentinels and human angels to guide you and protect you. There are answers to your questions, if you are ready to listen to the answers. And then act on those answers, unafraid and with confidence.
In your Journal:
What drama have you been experiencing? What chaos seems to be around you? What confusion do you find yourself in? How can you clarify the pathway? Take one dramatic problem at a time (money "necessary bills over peripheral bills", career, love, wisdom, happiness, etc...), write out the answer, and then step into an active solution. What is the messages that you are getting? Try to clear up all confusion. Can you decipher the answers to your life's questions? What pressing problems have been on your mind? What have you found to help those problems? What creates worse problems? Are you aware what path NOT to take --- In relationships? With your family? In your job? With your goals? What path seems clear to take --- In relationships? With your family? In your job? With your goals? Is your mind in overwhelm? How are you handling your stress? What precautions are you taking with your health? Are you getting carried away in the confusion? Or are you working for solutions? How meaningful do you find your life? How meaningful do you find your job or career? As you meditate, bring your shining light all throughout your body -- remember there is no fear.
www.tarasutphen.com
By Tara Sutphen
The Full Buck Moon at 15* Capricorn will culminate at July 7, 2009 6.23am PST/Prenumbral Lunar Eclipse will culminate 6.40am PST. This is a month to find your strength and steadiness, time to move drama or chaos into workable solutions. What has been out of control has practical ways toward a resolution. No need to hold on to "how things won't change" or "standing by, expecting people to treat you right", gain a foothold, start moving in a direction that best suits the security and the peacefulness of your life. The eclipse is unseen by the naked eye this time, the sun is too far away and only shadows a quarter of the moon. Lunar eclipses are about something going out of your life at this time, it could be hardly noticeable or it could be something that you haven't been paying attention to, but needs your immediate attention to rectify. It's time to observe your actions and reactions. How are you interpreting confusion and commotion. Do you wait until it subsides or do you actively seek clarification and order. Move to dissipate bigger problems and obstructions. The time on the planet is your time, you have the power and ability to change the things that seem impossible. Trust yourself. Call in your sentinels and human angels to guide you and protect you. There are answers to your questions, if you are ready to listen to the answers. And then act on those answers, unafraid and with confidence.
In your Journal:
What drama have you been experiencing? What chaos seems to be around you? What confusion do you find yourself in? How can you clarify the pathway? Take one dramatic problem at a time (money "necessary bills over peripheral bills", career, love, wisdom, happiness, etc...), write out the answer, and then step into an active solution. What is the messages that you are getting? Try to clear up all confusion. Can you decipher the answers to your life's questions? What pressing problems have been on your mind? What have you found to help those problems? What creates worse problems? Are you aware what path NOT to take --- In relationships? With your family? In your job? With your goals? What path seems clear to take --- In relationships? With your family? In your job? With your goals? Is your mind in overwhelm? How are you handling your stress? What precautions are you taking with your health? Are you getting carried away in the confusion? Or are you working for solutions? How meaningful do you find your life? How meaningful do you find your job or career? As you meditate, bring your shining light all throughout your body -- remember there is no fear.
www.tarasutphen.com
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
A handy tip from EFT
Here's a useful method from the Emotional Freedom Technique for finding subtle emotional issues that may be causing physical symptoms:
Vividly imagine being in perfect health (i.e. completely without symptoms), and then listen for the "tail-enders" or "yes buts" that show up. That's exactly where the impediments to healing are.
The awareness of these tail-enders starts to diffuse their power. Following them into the feelings they come from, being with that feeling without resistance allows it to float away.
Vividly imagine being in perfect health (i.e. completely without symptoms), and then listen for the "tail-enders" or "yes buts" that show up. That's exactly where the impediments to healing are.
The awareness of these tail-enders starts to diffuse their power. Following them into the feelings they come from, being with that feeling without resistance allows it to float away.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Great read on composting
What is Compost?
Compost is previously living material that has been broken down by the combined action of water, air and the huge appetites of a wide variety of small and even microscopic organisms. Some of the active compost creatures in nature in nature such as earthworms, beetles and slugs can be seen, but there are also millions of microscopic organisms that actually result in most of the compost action. It is these microorganisms that will work their magic in home compost containers by greatly reducing the total mass of the plant material and ultimately result in compost for your garden. Without the action of these hungry little creatures we would literally be buried under generations of dead plants and years of fallen leaves. Picture a 100 year old maple tree that might create a six inch layer of leaves on a forest floor every autumn. Without a natural composting action this would have produced up to 50 feet of leaves which certainly would have choked life out of the tree many years ago. If you were to start digging down under this tree before the leaves fall you would first find a few inches of last years leaves, the top portion of which may be quite dry. Next you will find a thinner layer of damp partially decomposed leaves and further down just a rich loose composted soil that is damp and has a rich earthy smell. This layer is often a foot or so thick before you get down to a less organic soil and finally a substrate of sand, rock, clay or whatever the geology of your region has provided.
Compost that you make can be a critical component of your garden soil. Compost provides many benefits: it improves soil structure; helps retain water and provides nutrients for you plants. If your garden soil is high in clay content you can work compost in to help break up the tiny mineral particles that make up clay which will actually decrease their ability to again adhere to each other thereby allowing water and nutrients to continue to easily enter the soil an reach the root systems of your plants. At the same time by keeping the clay particles farther apart, you will lower the potential for your garden to turn to ‘concrete’ if it dries out a little. If on the other hand you are dealing with very sandy soil, adding and working in compost will allow moisture and nutrients to be retained much longer. You can think of it this way, if you grab a handful of wet sand and try to squeeze water out, nothing will happen. If on the other hand you squeeze a handful of compost it is like squeezing out a sponge because the compost particles are flexible and contain millions of small cavities or pores that equal an enormous amount of surface area and actually hold water. An ideal type of soil is often referred to as ’sandy loam’ this is a blend of sand, decayed organic material (compost) and a low enough clay content that it remains loose and porous even when dry.
A compost rich soil is often thought of as being high in nutrients but this is not usually the case. Most compost made from yard and kitchen waste should be considered as primarily improving the structure of the soil and not a main source of nutrients needed to make your plants flourish. The exception to this is when the compost contains a high percentage or is totally made up of composted manure such as horse or cow manure. Composted manure is rich in a number of nutrients especially nitrogen. In fact manure that has not been thoroughly composted or mixed with other composting materials can do as much harm to your plants as would happen if you added too much plant fertilizer, resulting in nitrogen burn. Your home made compost will be appreciated by your plants and will have a rich, dark, loose texture and a wonderful fresh earthy smell like the forest floor.
Derrick Walters MBA has degrees in biology and chemistry. Derrick is a partner in a business that markets “green” products. To contact Derrick you can email him at derrick@midstateproducts.com or if you would like more information about the newest in high tech compost tumblers you can visit http://midstatecomposters.com where you will find top rated composters and lots of composting information and tips.
Compost is previously living material that has been broken down by the combined action of water, air and the huge appetites of a wide variety of small and even microscopic organisms. Some of the active compost creatures in nature in nature such as earthworms, beetles and slugs can be seen, but there are also millions of microscopic organisms that actually result in most of the compost action. It is these microorganisms that will work their magic in home compost containers by greatly reducing the total mass of the plant material and ultimately result in compost for your garden. Without the action of these hungry little creatures we would literally be buried under generations of dead plants and years of fallen leaves. Picture a 100 year old maple tree that might create a six inch layer of leaves on a forest floor every autumn. Without a natural composting action this would have produced up to 50 feet of leaves which certainly would have choked life out of the tree many years ago. If you were to start digging down under this tree before the leaves fall you would first find a few inches of last years leaves, the top portion of which may be quite dry. Next you will find a thinner layer of damp partially decomposed leaves and further down just a rich loose composted soil that is damp and has a rich earthy smell. This layer is often a foot or so thick before you get down to a less organic soil and finally a substrate of sand, rock, clay or whatever the geology of your region has provided.
Compost that you make can be a critical component of your garden soil. Compost provides many benefits: it improves soil structure; helps retain water and provides nutrients for you plants. If your garden soil is high in clay content you can work compost in to help break up the tiny mineral particles that make up clay which will actually decrease their ability to again adhere to each other thereby allowing water and nutrients to continue to easily enter the soil an reach the root systems of your plants. At the same time by keeping the clay particles farther apart, you will lower the potential for your garden to turn to ‘concrete’ if it dries out a little. If on the other hand you are dealing with very sandy soil, adding and working in compost will allow moisture and nutrients to be retained much longer. You can think of it this way, if you grab a handful of wet sand and try to squeeze water out, nothing will happen. If on the other hand you squeeze a handful of compost it is like squeezing out a sponge because the compost particles are flexible and contain millions of small cavities or pores that equal an enormous amount of surface area and actually hold water. An ideal type of soil is often referred to as ’sandy loam’ this is a blend of sand, decayed organic material (compost) and a low enough clay content that it remains loose and porous even when dry.
A compost rich soil is often thought of as being high in nutrients but this is not usually the case. Most compost made from yard and kitchen waste should be considered as primarily improving the structure of the soil and not a main source of nutrients needed to make your plants flourish. The exception to this is when the compost contains a high percentage or is totally made up of composted manure such as horse or cow manure. Composted manure is rich in a number of nutrients especially nitrogen. In fact manure that has not been thoroughly composted or mixed with other composting materials can do as much harm to your plants as would happen if you added too much plant fertilizer, resulting in nitrogen burn. Your home made compost will be appreciated by your plants and will have a rich, dark, loose texture and a wonderful fresh earthy smell like the forest floor.
Derrick Walters MBA has degrees in biology and chemistry. Derrick is a partner in a business that markets “green” products. To contact Derrick you can email him at derrick@midstateproducts.com or if you would like more information about the newest in high tech compost tumblers you can visit http://midstatecomposters.com where you will find top rated composters and lots of composting information and tips.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Dear Readers - June 12, 2009
I've noticed every once in a while, there will be a day--or a week--when everything seems to happen at once. And, each one of those "everythings" is a demand for either attention or resources, or both. Quickly, life feels like a quagmire, and the priorities I thought were neatly in place are now nowhere to be found, and there is that sinking feeling. You know you need focus, but it's just not there, and you've lost track of what is most important physically, emotionally, and spiritually.I'm reminded of the movie "Pulp Fiction," when Vincent (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel Jackson) are freaking out about an inadvertant mess they'd created. Their friend, Jimmy (Quentin Tarantino), calls in "The Cleaner," hilariously portrayed by Harvey Keitel. The Cleaner comes in with all the correct and brutally practical priorities, takes the immediate actions necessary to prevent the mess from getting bigger, minimizes the damage, all the while putting everyone at ease and back in control.
It's The Cleaner within that we sometimes need to call up to handle these periods of "everything happening at once." I found a great article on the blog, Margaret's Ramblings that describes how to activate this energy and put it into action, returning that sense of stability, hope and perspective.
She says, "My Nana always told us, 'The sun will still come up in the morning,' and she was right. You will get through this. It will not be easy. There will be times when you feel despair. And this is when your support system will be needed. Family and friends you can rely on to just listen, maybe offer practical advice and provide a soft place for you to dwell in for a while."
Because most of our loss of perspective happens around financial issues, Margaret lays out the priorities on that mostly, but her larger point struck me as a certain dimension of empowerment--a way of simultaneously letting go of our resistance to the situation, and letting our larger Self shine through with the Big Picture.
Once perspective has been re-established, it's time to lick your wounds, relax and nurture self. I love a hot herbal bath, and RepairZyme enzyme formula for this, and of course, our good ol' E-3 Energy Cream, to soothe away those aches and pains.
And, shine on!
In vibrant health,
Shay Arave
President
Subtle Energy Solutions
ShaysWays.com
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The End of Overeating
June 11, 2009
When you've had a bad day, most folks don't reach for carrots or broccoli to feel good. Really, when was the last time you watched a sitcom and the desperate housewife came home, cracked open a package of carrots and chomped down to drown out her frustrations?
According to a multi-nation survey of more than 10,000 people conducted by Synovate and reported this month in USA Today, 45 percent of Americans turn to junk food to "feel good" and 44 percent of us like the taste of fast food too much to give it up. These statistics aren't surprising if you've read or listened to Dr. David Kessler.
His book, "The End of Overeating" features a cover photo of carrots and carrot cake. Which one would you go for when you're feeling down? I'll bet the carrot cake. But why? One reason is we're biologically geared up to fall in love with sugar, fat and salt. When we get all three layered in a creamy slathering mix that melts in our mouth, most of us will finish the food wanting more and recalling how good we felt after eating it.
Our food industry pushes roughly $333 billion into the economy and knows this. According to Kessler's book, United Stated Department of Agriculture data shows our per capita fat consumption is up 63 percent over the past 33 years. And you thought you were diligently eating low-fat food.
Sugars and sweeteners are up 19 percent, and grain consumption 43 percent. While only 8 percent of American women, who tend to eat healthier than men, are consuming the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day needed to promote health.
Although the food industry now is working overtime to create healthy menu options and convenience products, these aren't the ones we reach for under stress. Instead, we tend to go for the traditional thick monster burger, mac and cheese, nachos, pizza, ice cream, cookies or cheesecake. Foods high in fat, salt, sugar and, yes, comfort.
When we continually treat stress by rewarding ourselves with highly palatable food that also is high in calories, we're likely to gain weight, driving up our risk for chronic disease. We know this. So how can we reign in a treat and reward system that seems to push us toward chronic disease?
Here are some suggestions:
Clean out the pantry. Make sure you dump the high-calorie comfort foods you overeat when you feel bad. Replace them with healthy options you've never had a love affair with. Like an bad relationship, you've got to cut the cord, move on, and don't look back.
Move the healthy food you're supposed to reach for when your tired, hungry, anxious or angry, or lonely front and center in the fridge or pantry. When we're not thinking we tend to eat what we see first. Make sure the food you need to eat more of is out on the counter, and at eye level in the pantry or fridge. Put this food on your desk and offer it to coworkers as treats and to your kids as rewards. Seriously, work against the advertisers and make stuff like apple slices and green tea a treat.
Find some calorie-free fun like a good laugh, a riddle, walking with a friend, good music on the way home from work, a quick comedy clip from YouTube instead of a calorie-laden pick-me-up. Music, humor and activity can elicit a feel-good response. You'll immediately feel better without the guilt. By doing something different in response to your emotions you can create a new reward system aimed at making you feel better for life.
When you've had a bad day, most folks don't reach for carrots or broccoli to feel good. Really, when was the last time you watched a sitcom and the desperate housewife came home, cracked open a package of carrots and chomped down to drown out her frustrations?
According to a multi-nation survey of more than 10,000 people conducted by Synovate and reported this month in USA Today, 45 percent of Americans turn to junk food to "feel good" and 44 percent of us like the taste of fast food too much to give it up. These statistics aren't surprising if you've read or listened to Dr. David Kessler.
His book, "The End of Overeating" features a cover photo of carrots and carrot cake. Which one would you go for when you're feeling down? I'll bet the carrot cake. But why? One reason is we're biologically geared up to fall in love with sugar, fat and salt. When we get all three layered in a creamy slathering mix that melts in our mouth, most of us will finish the food wanting more and recalling how good we felt after eating it.
Our food industry pushes roughly $333 billion into the economy and knows this. According to Kessler's book, United Stated Department of Agriculture data shows our per capita fat consumption is up 63 percent over the past 33 years. And you thought you were diligently eating low-fat food.
Sugars and sweeteners are up 19 percent, and grain consumption 43 percent. While only 8 percent of American women, who tend to eat healthier than men, are consuming the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day needed to promote health.
Although the food industry now is working overtime to create healthy menu options and convenience products, these aren't the ones we reach for under stress. Instead, we tend to go for the traditional thick monster burger, mac and cheese, nachos, pizza, ice cream, cookies or cheesecake. Foods high in fat, salt, sugar and, yes, comfort.
When we continually treat stress by rewarding ourselves with highly palatable food that also is high in calories, we're likely to gain weight, driving up our risk for chronic disease. We know this. So how can we reign in a treat and reward system that seems to push us toward chronic disease?
Here are some suggestions:
Clean out the pantry. Make sure you dump the high-calorie comfort foods you overeat when you feel bad. Replace them with healthy options you've never had a love affair with. Like an bad relationship, you've got to cut the cord, move on, and don't look back.
Move the healthy food you're supposed to reach for when your tired, hungry, anxious or angry, or lonely front and center in the fridge or pantry. When we're not thinking we tend to eat what we see first. Make sure the food you need to eat more of is out on the counter, and at eye level in the pantry or fridge. Put this food on your desk and offer it to coworkers as treats and to your kids as rewards. Seriously, work against the advertisers and make stuff like apple slices and green tea a treat.
Find some calorie-free fun like a good laugh, a riddle, walking with a friend, good music on the way home from work, a quick comedy clip from YouTube instead of a calorie-laden pick-me-up. Music, humor and activity can elicit a feel-good response. You'll immediately feel better without the guilt. By doing something different in response to your emotions you can create a new reward system aimed at making you feel better for life.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Clean Sweep Energy Spray
We received this email from one of new customers. She was very impressed with the Clean Sweep energy spray, noticing clearing effects immediately."I would like to share something with you. I started using the Clean Sweep spray right away. Today is Monday and I feel alot better--more calm, relaxed, and grounded. I have the ability to see negative energy, and I noticed the amount of negative energy has diminished. I've tried other type of sprays in the past and none of them worked. I will continue to observe the results and I will keep you informed." -- E. Medina, Kissimee, FL
We look forward to hearing more from you, Ms. Medina!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Dear Readers - May 20, 2009
Exercising the body, I believe, is underrated. The body can tolerate (or craves) more exercise than most people accept. And, as the saying goes, "Use it or lose it"--especially the older you get. I find the more active I am, the better I feel. There are all sorts of medical reasons for this (cardiovascular, parasympathetic, lymph stimulation), but there is an emotional component to it that I think gets overlooked, and seldom mentioned.
When you're in motion and breathing, you feel yourself being alive. You feel yourself accomplishing. You feel yourself having the adventure of life. It's just more uplifting to be active. Often, exercising is recommended to people with clinical depression just for this reason.
On the other hand, if you just don't feel like moving, and yet you HAVE to move (chasing down a 6-year old, or getting the vacuuming done before the mother-in-law arrives), it's easy to get focused on your resistance instead of the task at hand. Here is your perfect opportunity to change the exercise mindset. Feel your aliveness, enjoy the good thing you're doing for your body and BREATHE. It's not for the 6-year old, it's not for your mother-in-law--it's for you!
Of course, increasing your overall lifestyle activity level usually means changing your routine and there are the resistances that come with that. It does require some discipline, but focusing on the benefits and the good feelings that come with activity can keep you motivated.
Here are some low-impact choices you can make to your routine:
- If you have a remote phone, walk around while you talk, and then always return it to its cradle.
- Instead of hiring the kid across the street to mow the lawn, do it yourself.
- Park the car in the back of parking lots so you have to walk a ways, and then jog.
- Take the stairs not the elevator.
- Put dishes, pots, pans, cleaning supplies, etc., in locations requiring you to walk, stretch or bend to get a hold of them.
- Be aware of your breathing, then breathe in for a count of 6, breathe out for 6. Do this three times. Refreshing!
- While sitting or reclining, tense and release your legs, arms, stomach, shoulders, face, hands.
- Check into yoga classes or official nature walks. Talk to your neighbor about going with you.
- Walk the dog.
- Plant a garden and raise your own vegetables.
And, when all else fails, at least BREATHE.
In vibrant health,
Shay Arave
President
Subtle Energy Solutions
ShaysWays.com
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Common Symptoms of Enzyme Deficiency
New article posted about the symptoms that can show up from an enzyme deficiency due to life stressors or an inadequate diet, or both. Although you may be eating healthy foods and exercising, other factors can overrun your body's ability to produce a high enough enzyme level to maintain good health. Some of these factors include environmental stressors, such as air or electromagnetic pollution; emotional stress, such as job loss, loss of a loved one, or a chronic relationship conflict; lack of raw foods in the diet; other lifestyle stress, such as frequent business travel, lack of sleep, or job and family demands. All of these conditions either inhibit the body's ability to produce enzymes, or put the body into stress because normal levels of enzymes are being used up and not sufficiently replaced.
Enzyme Deficiency
Amylase Deficiency
Breaking out of the skin –rash.
Hypoglycemia
Depression
Allergies
PMS
Hot Flashes
Fatigue
Cold Hands and Feet
Neck and Shoulder Aches
Sprue
Inflammation
Protease Deficiency
Back Weakness
Fungal Forms
Constipation
High Blood Pressure
Insomnia
Hearing Problems
Parasites
Gum Disorders
Gingivitis
Lipase Deficiency
Aching Feet
Arthritis
Bladder Problems
Cystitis
Acne
Gall Bladder Stress
Gallstones
Hay Fever
Prostate Problems
Psoriasis
Combination Deficiency
Chronic Allergies
Common Colds
Diverticulitis
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue
Sinus Infection
Immune Depressed Condition
Breaking out of the skin –rash.
Hypoglycemia
Depression
Allergies
PMS
Hot Flashes
Fatigue
Cold Hands and Feet
Neck and Shoulder Aches
Sprue
Inflammation
Protease Deficiency
Back Weakness
Fungal Forms
Constipation
High Blood Pressure
Insomnia
Hearing Problems
Parasites
Gum Disorders
Gingivitis
Lipase Deficiency
Aching Feet
Arthritis
Bladder Problems
Cystitis
Acne
Gall Bladder Stress
Gallstones
Hay Fever
Prostate Problems
Psoriasis
Combination Deficiency
Chronic Allergies
Common Colds
Diverticulitis
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue
Sinus Infection
Immune Depressed Condition
Thursday, May 14, 2009
More on raw juicing and alkaline benefits
Want to Lose Weight? Try Vegetable Juice
Drinking at least one glass of low-sodium vegetable juice daily may help overweight dieters lose more weight.
In a study, adults who drank at least 8 ounces of vegetable juice as part of a diet lost 4 pounds over 12 weeks, while those who followed the same diet but did not drink the juice lost only 1 pound. The vegetable juice drinkers also significantly increased their intake of vitamin C and potassium, while decreasing their overall carbohydrate intake.
It's possible that vegetable juice helps reduce appetite. In addition, vegetable juice drinkers are more likely to get the recommended 3 to 5 servings of vegetables daily.
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
No doubt about it, vegetable juice can help you to lose weight.
This weight loss is experienced not only by people who have that as a goal, but also by those who do not. Many -- in fact, the majority -- of people start juicing as a way to improve their health and energy. But even these folks have noticed the pounds “falling off.”
This may be a result of the fact that acids are stored in fat cells, and when the pH becomes better balanced with alkaline foods such as vegetable juices, your body will let go of fat cells and the acids they contain.
Additionally, people who are juicing are likely eating less processed food and junk food, feeling better and having more energy, and as a result are more active, which would contribute to shedding excess pounds.
But weight loss is just one benefit of juicing. Others include:
• Boosting your immune system. Juicing can supercharge your immune system with its concentration of beneficial phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are the substances plants contain that protect them from disease, injury and pollution. Research has shown that people whose diets are highest in phytonutrients (ie, plants) have the lowest incidence of cancer and other diseases.
• Increasing your energy. When your body has an abundance of the nutrients it needs, and your pH is optimally balanced, you feel energized.
• Supporting your brain health. People who drank juices (fruit and vegetable) more than three times per week, compared to less than once a week, were 76 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Kame Project.
Bottled vs. Raw: Does it Matter?
The benefits of vegetable juice noted above are largely available from RAW vegetable juice, as opposed to the processed varieties you find at the grocery store.
Raw vegetable juice, the kind you make at home, is teeming with valuable and sensitive micronutrients, however these become damaged and destroyed when the juice is heated or pasteurized.
Raw juice, on the other hand, is therapeutic. It is a nutrient-dense “living” broth that is absorbed almost instantly, requiring little effort by your body. It is almost like receiving an intravenous infusion of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that goes right into your system without having to be broken down.
Since it can be utilized by your body immediately, those who juice report feeling the “kick” of energy almost instantly.
Raw juice also contains something very special -- biophotonic light energy -- which revitalizes your body.
Fresh, raw juice is a “live food” with a full complement of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and enzymes. Commercially processed, canned, bottled, frozen or otherwise packaged juices have been pasteurized, again meaning the juice has been exposed to high temperatures, and many of the vitamins and enzymes have been killed or removed.
Which Veggies are the Best to Juice?
That all depends … on YOU.
You can find out which vegetables are best for you (and keep in mind that you want to juice primarily veggies, NOT fruits, which are high in sugar) by determining your nutritional type, and selecting vegetables that are best suited for your unique biochemistry.
According to Nutritional Typing principles, if you are a carb type, vegetable juicing is highly recommended if you want to regain or retain your health. Juicing is also beneficial for mixed types, whereas protein types need to follow some specific guidelines to make it work for them.
Generally speaking, though, you should start by juicing vegetables that you enjoy eating non-juiced. The juice should taste pleasant -- not make you feel nauseous.
You’ll also want to minimize your use of high-sugar veggies like carrots and beets. If you’re healthy they’re fine to use in moderation, but if you’re struggling with health challenges or are overweight, stick to vegetables that grow above-ground instead.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Vegetable Juicing
I have previously written an extensive guide to juicing, which I highly recommend you read to help you get started. But one important factor to keep in mind is that, since vegetable juice is very perishable, it’s best to drink all of your juice right after you make it.
However, if you're careful, you can store it for up to 24 hours with only moderate nutritional decline. To store your juice:
• Put your juice in a glass jar with an airtight lid and fill it to the very top. There should be a minimum amount of air in the jar as the oxygen in air (air is about 20 percent oxygen) will "oxidize" and damage the juice.
• Wrap the jar with aluminum foil to block out all light. Light damages the juice.
• Store it in the refrigerator until about 30 minutes prior to drinking, as vegetable juice is best consumed at room temperature.
Thought it does take some time to prepare fresh vegetable juice, the benefits you’ll receive will more than make up for it. Many people enjoy juicing first thing in the morning, including myself, and it quickly becomes a normal, satisfying routine, just like brushing your teeth.
Drinking at least one glass of low-sodium vegetable juice daily may help overweight dieters lose more weight.
In a study, adults who drank at least 8 ounces of vegetable juice as part of a diet lost 4 pounds over 12 weeks, while those who followed the same diet but did not drink the juice lost only 1 pound. The vegetable juice drinkers also significantly increased their intake of vitamin C and potassium, while decreasing their overall carbohydrate intake.
It's possible that vegetable juice helps reduce appetite. In addition, vegetable juice drinkers are more likely to get the recommended 3 to 5 servings of vegetables daily.
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
No doubt about it, vegetable juice can help you to lose weight.
This weight loss is experienced not only by people who have that as a goal, but also by those who do not. Many -- in fact, the majority -- of people start juicing as a way to improve their health and energy. But even these folks have noticed the pounds “falling off.”
This may be a result of the fact that acids are stored in fat cells, and when the pH becomes better balanced with alkaline foods such as vegetable juices, your body will let go of fat cells and the acids they contain.
Additionally, people who are juicing are likely eating less processed food and junk food, feeling better and having more energy, and as a result are more active, which would contribute to shedding excess pounds.
But weight loss is just one benefit of juicing. Others include:
• Boosting your immune system. Juicing can supercharge your immune system with its concentration of beneficial phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are the substances plants contain that protect them from disease, injury and pollution. Research has shown that people whose diets are highest in phytonutrients (ie, plants) have the lowest incidence of cancer and other diseases.
• Increasing your energy. When your body has an abundance of the nutrients it needs, and your pH is optimally balanced, you feel energized.
• Supporting your brain health. People who drank juices (fruit and vegetable) more than three times per week, compared to less than once a week, were 76 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Kame Project.
Bottled vs. Raw: Does it Matter?
The benefits of vegetable juice noted above are largely available from RAW vegetable juice, as opposed to the processed varieties you find at the grocery store.
Raw vegetable juice, the kind you make at home, is teeming with valuable and sensitive micronutrients, however these become damaged and destroyed when the juice is heated or pasteurized.
Raw juice, on the other hand, is therapeutic. It is a nutrient-dense “living” broth that is absorbed almost instantly, requiring little effort by your body. It is almost like receiving an intravenous infusion of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that goes right into your system without having to be broken down.
Since it can be utilized by your body immediately, those who juice report feeling the “kick” of energy almost instantly.
Raw juice also contains something very special -- biophotonic light energy -- which revitalizes your body.
Fresh, raw juice is a “live food” with a full complement of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and enzymes. Commercially processed, canned, bottled, frozen or otherwise packaged juices have been pasteurized, again meaning the juice has been exposed to high temperatures, and many of the vitamins and enzymes have been killed or removed.
Which Veggies are the Best to Juice?
That all depends … on YOU.
You can find out which vegetables are best for you (and keep in mind that you want to juice primarily veggies, NOT fruits, which are high in sugar) by determining your nutritional type, and selecting vegetables that are best suited for your unique biochemistry.
According to Nutritional Typing principles, if you are a carb type, vegetable juicing is highly recommended if you want to regain or retain your health. Juicing is also beneficial for mixed types, whereas protein types need to follow some specific guidelines to make it work for them.
Generally speaking, though, you should start by juicing vegetables that you enjoy eating non-juiced. The juice should taste pleasant -- not make you feel nauseous.
You’ll also want to minimize your use of high-sugar veggies like carrots and beets. If you’re healthy they’re fine to use in moderation, but if you’re struggling with health challenges or are overweight, stick to vegetables that grow above-ground instead.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Vegetable Juicing
I have previously written an extensive guide to juicing, which I highly recommend you read to help you get started. But one important factor to keep in mind is that, since vegetable juice is very perishable, it’s best to drink all of your juice right after you make it.
However, if you're careful, you can store it for up to 24 hours with only moderate nutritional decline. To store your juice:
• Put your juice in a glass jar with an airtight lid and fill it to the very top. There should be a minimum amount of air in the jar as the oxygen in air (air is about 20 percent oxygen) will "oxidize" and damage the juice.
• Wrap the jar with aluminum foil to block out all light. Light damages the juice.
• Store it in the refrigerator until about 30 minutes prior to drinking, as vegetable juice is best consumed at room temperature.
Thought it does take some time to prepare fresh vegetable juice, the benefits you’ll receive will more than make up for it. Many people enjoy juicing first thing in the morning, including myself, and it quickly becomes a normal, satisfying routine, just like brushing your teeth.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Restless Leg Syndrome
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
(HealthDay News) -- Having a big belly or being obese appears to increase the risk for restless legs syndrome (RLS), a new study finds.
Some 5 percent to 10 percent of adults in the United States have RLS, a disorder that causes people to feel a compelling need to move their legs, especially when they're lying down. The condition can have a substantial impact on sleep, daily activities and quality of life, researchers say.
In the new study, "we found that obesity was associated with a 40 percent higher risk of having RLS," said lead researcher Dr. Xiang Gao, an instructor in medicine at the Harvard School of Public Health. "Individuals with a higher waist circumference, a marker for central obesity, are also 60 percent more likely to having RLS relative to those with a low waist circumference," he added.
The researchers also found an association between obesity at age 20 and a higher risk of having the disorder in mid-life or later, Gao said, while noting, "This suggests that obesity could be a risk factor for development of RLS."
The report is published in the April 7 issue of Neurology.
For the study, Gao's team collected data on almost 89,000 men and women who took part in either the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study or the Nurses' Health Study II. Among these people, 6.4 percent of women and 4.1 percent of men reported having RLS.
The researchers found that obese men and women were almost one-and-a-half times more likely to have RLS compared with their normal-weight counterparts. Moreover, those with the largest waists were also more likely to have RLS compared with people with the slimmest waists.
Some studies suggest that obese people have lower dopamine receptor levels in the brain. Since decreased dopamine is believed to play a role in RLS, there could be a link between obesity and lower dopamine levels, Gao said. Dopamine is produced by the body and transmits signals between nerve cells.
"If future prospective studies confirm that obesity is a risk factor for RLS, weight reduction may contribute to RLS prevention," Gao speculated.
Dr. Carlos Singer, director of the Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders at the University of Miami School of Medicine, said the study may be yet another reason to watch your weight.
"This is a warning to all of us -- watch out for obesity," Singer said.
But Singer cautioned that the link between obesity and RLS remains unclear and the two conditions may simply be linked by some other, as yet unknown, factor. Still, he added, it can't hurt to try and lose weight in order to stave off RLS, since "we have plenty of good reasons already not to be obese."
The finding may also provide more clues to the origins of RLS, Singer said. The link between the condition and decreased dopamine is interesting, he added, because dopamine is also a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, another movement disorder.
HealthDay Reporter
(HealthDay News) -- Having a big belly or being obese appears to increase the risk for restless legs syndrome (RLS), a new study finds.
Some 5 percent to 10 percent of adults in the United States have RLS, a disorder that causes people to feel a compelling need to move their legs, especially when they're lying down. The condition can have a substantial impact on sleep, daily activities and quality of life, researchers say.
In the new study, "we found that obesity was associated with a 40 percent higher risk of having RLS," said lead researcher Dr. Xiang Gao, an instructor in medicine at the Harvard School of Public Health. "Individuals with a higher waist circumference, a marker for central obesity, are also 60 percent more likely to having RLS relative to those with a low waist circumference," he added.
The researchers also found an association between obesity at age 20 and a higher risk of having the disorder in mid-life or later, Gao said, while noting, "This suggests that obesity could be a risk factor for development of RLS."
The report is published in the April 7 issue of Neurology.
For the study, Gao's team collected data on almost 89,000 men and women who took part in either the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study or the Nurses' Health Study II. Among these people, 6.4 percent of women and 4.1 percent of men reported having RLS.
The researchers found that obese men and women were almost one-and-a-half times more likely to have RLS compared with their normal-weight counterparts. Moreover, those with the largest waists were also more likely to have RLS compared with people with the slimmest waists.
Some studies suggest that obese people have lower dopamine receptor levels in the brain. Since decreased dopamine is believed to play a role in RLS, there could be a link between obesity and lower dopamine levels, Gao said. Dopamine is produced by the body and transmits signals between nerve cells.
"If future prospective studies confirm that obesity is a risk factor for RLS, weight reduction may contribute to RLS prevention," Gao speculated.
Dr. Carlos Singer, director of the Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders at the University of Miami School of Medicine, said the study may be yet another reason to watch your weight.
"This is a warning to all of us -- watch out for obesity," Singer said.
But Singer cautioned that the link between obesity and RLS remains unclear and the two conditions may simply be linked by some other, as yet unknown, factor. Still, he added, it can't hurt to try and lose weight in order to stave off RLS, since "we have plenty of good reasons already not to be obese."
The finding may also provide more clues to the origins of RLS, Singer said. The link between the condition and decreased dopamine is interesting, he added, because dopamine is also a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, another movement disorder.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Dear Readers - May 8, 2009
It is that time again...weeding those gardens, bending, reaching, crawling on hands and knees clearing out old growth for the benefit of those colorful beds of veggies and flowers known as part of the summertime fest. I was thinking while weeding yesterday, that pulling the entire root of the weed is like transforming an old issue. If you do not remove the root, the weed returns, and like an issue, getting down to the origin of the issue--its thoughts and feeling--and transforming its meaning is the only way to create a lasting and productive life change.Recently I found new meaning in the breath, especially so in my yoga practice, showing up in my day-to-day while practicing deeper, rhythmic breathing in my work and daily activities. Breath, when practiced consciously, can be a form of release work--call it a distraction from those constant, daunting thoughts that dwell in the past. Things we wish we could change and can't, longings we wait for yet are late in arriving, thoughts that keep us out of the moment and stalled in the past. When you find yourself in the past, living a disappointment, go to the breath. Breathe in through the nose and out through the nose, relax...and do it again: In through the nose and out through the nose. As you exhale through the nose feel the breath loosen the shoulders, neck, upper chest; and inhale again, like a wave of motion, inhale and then exhale over and over.
Here are some of the physical benefits of nasal breathing.
- Makes exercise much easier because it restores sympathetic-parasympathetic balance so that you finish a workout energized, not exhausted.
- Stimulates the vagus nerve in the upper abdomen, allowing you to exercise more strenuously at a lower heart rate.
- Keeps the rib cage flexible so lung capacity is optimized, and you can oxygenate your body and brain more efficiently.
- Minimizes occurrence of colds and sinus infections, because air that is breathed into the lungs through the nose has been warmed and filtered by the cilia in your nasal passages.
- Improves metabolism because the better aeration of the lungs oxygenates the blood and burns more calories.
Spring is a wonderful time to clean up your garden and uproot ways of being that are long worn out and useless. Give it a try with the breath, and I will be right there with you. Once again, thanks for clicking into the Vibrant Living E-zine and for being my inspiration.
In vibrant health,
Shay Arave
President
Subtle Energy Solutions
ShaysWays.com
P.S. Oh, we're having a 50% OFF CLEARANCE SALE on our remaining Throat and 3rd Eye Chi Bracelets (1 ea.) and our remaining four Chi Necklaces. It's first come, first serve, so call us toll-free 888-301-6773 right away to order this very strenghtening and energetic jewelry for half off!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Identity Thief Instructions
Not A Joke!! Even If you dislike attorneys..... You will love them for these tips.
Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:
1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts,DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.
If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.
4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.
I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.
But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately.
But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)
7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name.
The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271
We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything.
If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about
Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:
1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts,DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.
If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.
4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.
I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.
But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately.
But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)
7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name.
The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271
We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything.
If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Dear Readers - April 9, 2009
Spring is such a season of change! Last week it was chilly and wet, this past week the sun came shining forth with temps in the 70s. Now it's back to "normal," with coolish temps and rain forecast for the Easter weekend. As they say, April showers bring May flowers! And, boy, do they here in Northwest Oregon!The meaning of Easter celebrated as it is during springtime, is a spiritual reminder of the transcendant quality of life. No matter how "bad" things seem, or how "powerless" we may think we are to change it, life always gets through our pesky egos to try to teach us about transcendance.
Zen teachers say the solution to any problem is in the problem itself. And nowhere else is this truer than within human psychology. Once we can recognize that the mind creates its own experience of life, our thoughts become our remote controls--controlling the kind of experience we have in life. Every thought or judgement is a "self-fulfilling prophecy."
It can be like wearing emotional glasses. We put on fearful glasses, and everything we see is fearful. We put on depressed glasses, and everything looks hopeless. A good exercise is to pretend to put on joyful glasses, and then just begin to see the little things around us that look joyful. Soon, more and more things seem joyful, and finally, we feel joyful. It's all a matter of perception.
I came across a great free download from the HeartMath Institute's founder Doc Childre. It is the De-Stress Kit for the Changing Times. I highly recommend downloading both the article and audio, and read along with the narrator. The material offers 15 exercises that will help de-stress whatever it is that is lowering your quality of life. Any ONE of these exercises could do the trick, so having 15 of them pretty much guarantees you'll be able to transcend whatever negativity is nagging at you, or draining your energy.
To celebrate this hope for transcedance during the Easter season of Spring, we're offering our handmade, very soothing, essential oils soaps by Venables Valley from beautiful British Columbia. These are such a treat to bathe with, so relaxing and de-stressing. You'll love them!
Also, we're having a 50% OFF CLEARANCE SALE on our remaining Throat and 3rd Eye Chi Bracelets (1 ea.) and our remaining four Chi Necklaces. It's first come, first serve, so call us toll-free 888-301-6773 right away to order this very strenghtening and energetic jewelry for half off!
May your Spring be a springboard to joy!
In vibrant health,
Shay Arave
President
Subtle Energy Solutions
ShaysWays.com
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Juicing!!!
I have been asked this question at least 100 times by you here on Facebook, so I am going to hopefully explain to you what I have been told by the great master teachers of Juice Therapy, Dr. Max Gerson and Dr. Norman Walker.
So, here we go!
The reason for juicing is to separate the juice from the fiber, so our body can assimilate the juices immediately, so that when you do drink that pulp free juice, which is now predigested, 100% of the juices go into our stomach immediately, without taxing our body, into the intestinal wall, through our portal vein, into the liver, and into our bloodstream to feed our 100 trillion cells!
That is precisely WHY juicing is far superior to blending. I truly hope you can understand, that when you blend foods together, it takes a long time to digest these foods, because they have been blended together, and now the stomach has to use more and more if its enzymes to digest it. Of course our mouths have enzymes called ptyalin that converts starches into dextrose and maltose, more commonly known also as salivary amylase, but when you are blending your foods, these enzymes are inhibited because they have been blended.
Let me further explain.
We need these enzymes to thoroughly mixed with your foods, while we are masticating our foods, so we can break the complex carbohydrates into simple starches and sugars for utilization by the human body.
But when we blend them, we are drinking the entire amount (which is pulp and juice together) and you haven't chewed the blended foods, so where is the body's ability to break it down? It can't do such a great job, so that is why juicing is far superior than blending.
When you are blending, you still have the cellulose fiber, no matter how minute you think you have thought the blender has broken it down, you still have the cellulose fiber that needs chewing for superior digestion and assimilation.
However, when we juice, we automatically don't have to worry about the pulp, and that's why I have always said, these juices, when extracted properly from the pulp, are pre-digested, and absorbed by the intestines 100%!
There is a caveat to this.....it's still very important to drink your juices slowly, so don't think you can gulp them down just because they are pre-digested! Drink slowly always. After all, it takes a long time to prepare the juicer and the produce, and the clean up....so enjoy your beautifully coloured and gorgeous juice!
I am going to film a short version of this talk today, so hopefully I can download it (with the help of our son) onto Youtube and then bring it here to Facebook, so you can really GET what I am saying!
All the best to everybody, and my old slogan seems fitting today......
"It's the JUICE of the FIBER that feeds you!"
Jay Kordich
juicedaddy.com
(we have a chapter in our book, Live Foods/Live Bodies that covers plant enzymes and why enzymes are VITAL to our health.)
So, here we go!
The reason for juicing is to separate the juice from the fiber, so our body can assimilate the juices immediately, so that when you do drink that pulp free juice, which is now predigested, 100% of the juices go into our stomach immediately, without taxing our body, into the intestinal wall, through our portal vein, into the liver, and into our bloodstream to feed our 100 trillion cells!
That is precisely WHY juicing is far superior to blending. I truly hope you can understand, that when you blend foods together, it takes a long time to digest these foods, because they have been blended together, and now the stomach has to use more and more if its enzymes to digest it. Of course our mouths have enzymes called ptyalin that converts starches into dextrose and maltose, more commonly known also as salivary amylase, but when you are blending your foods, these enzymes are inhibited because they have been blended.
Let me further explain.
We need these enzymes to thoroughly mixed with your foods, while we are masticating our foods, so we can break the complex carbohydrates into simple starches and sugars for utilization by the human body.
But when we blend them, we are drinking the entire amount (which is pulp and juice together) and you haven't chewed the blended foods, so where is the body's ability to break it down? It can't do such a great job, so that is why juicing is far superior than blending.
When you are blending, you still have the cellulose fiber, no matter how minute you think you have thought the blender has broken it down, you still have the cellulose fiber that needs chewing for superior digestion and assimilation.
However, when we juice, we automatically don't have to worry about the pulp, and that's why I have always said, these juices, when extracted properly from the pulp, are pre-digested, and absorbed by the intestines 100%!
There is a caveat to this.....it's still very important to drink your juices slowly, so don't think you can gulp them down just because they are pre-digested! Drink slowly always. After all, it takes a long time to prepare the juicer and the produce, and the clean up....so enjoy your beautifully coloured and gorgeous juice!
I am going to film a short version of this talk today, so hopefully I can download it (with the help of our son) onto Youtube and then bring it here to Facebook, so you can really GET what I am saying!
All the best to everybody, and my old slogan seems fitting today......
"It's the JUICE of the FIBER that feeds you!"
Jay Kordich
juicedaddy.com
(we have a chapter in our book, Live Foods/Live Bodies that covers plant enzymes and why enzymes are VITAL to our health.)
Friday, April 03, 2009
Natural Egg Dyeing
Natural Egg Dyeing
Spring has sprung - or promises to, anyway. If you're dyeing eggs in celebration, engage nature in the process this year. Natural ingredients like herbs and spices offer an endless variety of hues for dyeing eggs -- from the soft purple shades of hibiscus to the rich gold tones of turmeric. Dyeing with nature takes a bit more patience, and a bit more openness to whatever nature decides to deliver. But that's what makes the activity such creative fun -- and the results so stunning.
There are two easy ways to dye eggs with natural dyestuffs. One is a hot method, which delivers the deepest colors; the other is cold. You might try each, or use them in combination.
What you will need to get started
» Mordant -- Alum, cream of tartar, or white vinegar will help the colors penetrate the eggshell. (Mordants aren't necessary, but you'll get better results if you use one.)
» Pots -- Enamel or glass pots (not aluminum) are best.
» Water -- Use distilled water or water that is chlorine-filtered.
» Eggs -- White eggs will display the subtle, natural colors better than brown or green eggs.
» Dyestuff -- The more eggs you're dyeing, the more dyestuff you'll need. Have fun experimenting with herbs and spices to see what colors they impart, but here are some suggestions to get you started:
Reddish blue/lavender: Hibiscus flowers
Deep gold: Turmeric root powder
Pale yellow: Safflower petals
Pale orange: Curry powder
Reddish brown: Chili powder
Orange: Paprika
Soft brown: Dill seed
Tannish yellow: Yarrow
Other natural products that make lovely dyes:
Beet juice or beet powder, berries, coffee, juice, lemon and orange peels, red cabbage leaves, tea, onion skins.
Ingredients:
Once you get the hang of dyeing naturally, you'll work in panfuls and handfuls, but here are some guidelines to get you started:
» 4 cups water
» dyestuff (about 2-4 tbsps ground herbs and spices or 1 cup whole or cut and sifted)
» 1 tablespoon mordant (see above)
» 4 to 6 eggs, washed to remove any coating (Use raw for hot bath, hard-boiled for cold.)
Hot Bath Directions
Bring water, dyestuff, and mordant to a boil. Add eggs and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 15 minutes, remove from heat, cover and let sit another 15 minutes or more, until desired color. (The longer you leave the eggs in the dye, the deeper the color.) Remove eggs, gently rinse in lukewarm water, and let air dry.
Cold Bath Directions
Make a dyebath by bringing water, dyestuff, and mordant to a boil. Simmer the dyestuff until the water is deeply colored, anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours. (Put a lid on the pot to prevent evaporation.) Strain the liquid and cool. Add hard-boiled eggs to the dye, and let soak until desired color is reached (overnight, in the refrigerator, if you like).
Tips and Tricks
» Add sheen to your eggs by gently wiping the dry, dyed shell with vegetable oil.
» Consider dyeing an egg in more than one color. (Let dry between dyeing.)
» Experiment with fun techniques: Wrap an egg in rubber bands or apply masking tape in patterns before dyeing, for a batik effect. Or wrap an egg in leaves (hold them in place with a nylon stocking) before dyeing. For a stippled effect, pat an egg with a sponge while still wet. And to marbleize your egg, add a drop of oil to the dye liquid.
» For a smoother look, dye eggs in strained liquid. For more texture, leave in the dyestuff.
» Don't over stir the eggs while simmering, or overhandle them once you remove them from the dye. The outer shell, softened from the mordant, can rub off.
Ask the Experts
How can I tell which herbs will make good dye?
As you experiment with other herbs and spices, remember that you can't always tell which ones will make good dye. Trial and error is part of the fun. Sometimes an herb you expect great things from will leave the water clear (lavender, despite its name, scent, and beautiful flowers, delivers little if any color when boiled, for example). Other times, you'll be surprised by the burst of color when a plant hits the water. You can test natural ingredients before placing eggs in them (you can usually judge by the color of the water how well it will dye). And you can always re-dye an egg if you're disappointed in the initial results.
Can I eat the eggs I've colored with natural dye?
» If you plan to eat eggs that you've colored with natural dyes keep them in mind as food as you dye them. Use the cold bath method, or (if you're after richer color) start with the hot bath, but cook the eggs just until the desired doneness. Then remove them from the pan, strain and cool the liquid, and place them back in. Put the soaking egg in the refrigerator. (Eggs that are going to be eaten shouldn't be kept out of the refrigerator for extended periods.) Remove, rinse, and let air dry. Then put right back in the refrigerator until you're ready to crack it open to make that egg salad. (If the shell cracks during dyeing, make sure whatever dyestuff you've chosen is safe for human consumption, or discard the egg.)
Spring has sprung - or promises to, anyway. If you're dyeing eggs in celebration, engage nature in the process this year. Natural ingredients like herbs and spices offer an endless variety of hues for dyeing eggs -- from the soft purple shades of hibiscus to the rich gold tones of turmeric. Dyeing with nature takes a bit more patience, and a bit more openness to whatever nature decides to deliver. But that's what makes the activity such creative fun -- and the results so stunning.
There are two easy ways to dye eggs with natural dyestuffs. One is a hot method, which delivers the deepest colors; the other is cold. You might try each, or use them in combination.
What you will need to get started
» Mordant -- Alum, cream of tartar, or white vinegar will help the colors penetrate the eggshell. (Mordants aren't necessary, but you'll get better results if you use one.)
» Pots -- Enamel or glass pots (not aluminum) are best.
» Water -- Use distilled water or water that is chlorine-filtered.
» Eggs -- White eggs will display the subtle, natural colors better than brown or green eggs.
» Dyestuff -- The more eggs you're dyeing, the more dyestuff you'll need. Have fun experimenting with herbs and spices to see what colors they impart, but here are some suggestions to get you started:
Reddish blue/lavender: Hibiscus flowers
Deep gold: Turmeric root powder
Pale yellow: Safflower petals
Pale orange: Curry powder
Reddish brown: Chili powder
Orange: Paprika
Soft brown: Dill seed
Tannish yellow: Yarrow
Other natural products that make lovely dyes:
Beet juice or beet powder, berries, coffee, juice, lemon and orange peels, red cabbage leaves, tea, onion skins.
Ingredients:
Once you get the hang of dyeing naturally, you'll work in panfuls and handfuls, but here are some guidelines to get you started:
» 4 cups water
» dyestuff (about 2-4 tbsps ground herbs and spices or 1 cup whole or cut and sifted)
» 1 tablespoon mordant (see above)
» 4 to 6 eggs, washed to remove any coating (Use raw for hot bath, hard-boiled for cold.)
Hot Bath Directions
Bring water, dyestuff, and mordant to a boil. Add eggs and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 15 minutes, remove from heat, cover and let sit another 15 minutes or more, until desired color. (The longer you leave the eggs in the dye, the deeper the color.) Remove eggs, gently rinse in lukewarm water, and let air dry.
Cold Bath Directions
Make a dyebath by bringing water, dyestuff, and mordant to a boil. Simmer the dyestuff until the water is deeply colored, anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours. (Put a lid on the pot to prevent evaporation.) Strain the liquid and cool. Add hard-boiled eggs to the dye, and let soak until desired color is reached (overnight, in the refrigerator, if you like).
Tips and Tricks
» Add sheen to your eggs by gently wiping the dry, dyed shell with vegetable oil.
» Consider dyeing an egg in more than one color. (Let dry between dyeing.)
» Experiment with fun techniques: Wrap an egg in rubber bands or apply masking tape in patterns before dyeing, for a batik effect. Or wrap an egg in leaves (hold them in place with a nylon stocking) before dyeing. For a stippled effect, pat an egg with a sponge while still wet. And to marbleize your egg, add a drop of oil to the dye liquid.
» For a smoother look, dye eggs in strained liquid. For more texture, leave in the dyestuff.
» Don't over stir the eggs while simmering, or overhandle them once you remove them from the dye. The outer shell, softened from the mordant, can rub off.
Ask the Experts
How can I tell which herbs will make good dye?
As you experiment with other herbs and spices, remember that you can't always tell which ones will make good dye. Trial and error is part of the fun. Sometimes an herb you expect great things from will leave the water clear (lavender, despite its name, scent, and beautiful flowers, delivers little if any color when boiled, for example). Other times, you'll be surprised by the burst of color when a plant hits the water. You can test natural ingredients before placing eggs in them (you can usually judge by the color of the water how well it will dye). And you can always re-dye an egg if you're disappointed in the initial results.
Can I eat the eggs I've colored with natural dye?
» If you plan to eat eggs that you've colored with natural dyes keep them in mind as food as you dye them. Use the cold bath method, or (if you're after richer color) start with the hot bath, but cook the eggs just until the desired doneness. Then remove them from the pan, strain and cool the liquid, and place them back in. Put the soaking egg in the refrigerator. (Eggs that are going to be eaten shouldn't be kept out of the refrigerator for extended periods.) Remove, rinse, and let air dry. Then put right back in the refrigerator until you're ready to crack it open to make that egg salad. (If the shell cracks during dyeing, make sure whatever dyestuff you've chosen is safe for human consumption, or discard the egg.)
Friday, March 27, 2009
Dear Readers - March 26, 2009
The lovely Kathy Freston has a new book coming out, called, Quantum Wellness Cleanse: The 21-Day Essential Guide to Healing Your Mind, Body and Spirit. I plan to buy it when it comes out in May.As you know, I spent three months living and working at the Optimum Health Institute last year, and it was a wonderful experience. We lived on a diet of raw food--detox raw food. It was sometimes a challenge, but filled with many moments of rewards. Over the course of my stay I lost a total of 32 pounds, returning home rested, renewed and with a desire to continue the raw food lifestyle.
That, my friends, was much harder then expected. Old patterns began to re-surface and the weight began to return. It has been a lesson. I don't regret a minute of my time spent at OHI and am much wiser because of my three months of service.
Unless one addresses the emotional side to eating--overeating that is--permanent weight loss is less likely. If one feels deprived, craving a sweet, or in my case something salty, at a certain point you just give into the craving. Old habits die hard, and once again I am reminded that balance in all things is really the best for sustaining lifestyle changes that are both permanent and health enhancing.
So, eating some cooked food is back on the menu, lots of lush dark green salads, seeds and nuts and a more realistic long term commitment to my lifestyle needs and adventures. I just must be a "foodie," as I have always found a gathering with friends and family over a beautiful meal one of the finer things in life. And, although I love hot yoga for its rejuvenating, stress relieving qualities, more movement for my body type is needed to reduce and then maintain a more ideal body type.
And off I go... Does this sound familiar to any of you? Making a permanent lifestyle change that addresses both the physical and emotional side of your well-being? If it does, drop me a line, let's work on it together. Having a community of support is paramount for feeling supported and heard. I know this because of the OHI experience. We were all on the same page there to heal and rejuvenate. Weight loss was a side dish, so to speak.
I have just begun reading Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing by Dr. Christiane Northrup. I just finished her book on mothers and daughters, and it is a wonderful read. All of us, on some level have something to heal. Some of us have many things. The important part is not to give up on yourself. Keep pushing through.
The mother/daughter connection is so important because it was the first and truly primary example given us. From that we weave our own existence into adulthood and discover our own healing path--one that ideally sets in motion healing the generational imprints no longer useful, and re-imprinting on a cellular level more profound, conscious ways of living and being into the generation that follows.
May your life be filled with discovery, and until next time... Be Well.
In vibrant health,
Shay AravePresident
Subtle Energy Solutions
ShaysWays.com
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
B12 Deficit May Boost Risk of Birth Defects
B12 Deficit May Boost Risk of Birth Defects
Women who are vegans and vegetarians most affected, study says
(HealthDay News) -- Women who do not have enough vitamin B12 in their blood before and after conception have a greater chance of having a baby with brain or spinal cord defects, a new study says.
Most at risk may be vegans and vegetarians, since B12 is far more common in meat and animal-based foods, noted an American and Irish research team whose findings were published in the March issue of Pediatrics..
According to the study, women with low levels of B12 had at least 2.5 times the risk of giving birth to a child with these neural tube defects, which can lead to partial paralysis or even death, than women with the highest B12 levels.
"Vitamin B12 is essential for the functioning of the nervous system and for the production of red blood cells," Dr. Duane Alexander, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, said in a news release issued by its parent organization, the U.S. National Institutes of Health. "The results of this study suggest that women with low levels of B12 not only may risk health problems of their own, but also may increase the chance that their children may be born with a serious birth defect."
Researchers analyzed blood collected during the early pregnancy stages of hundreds of women from Ireland, a country with a high rate of neural tube defects. Either the women had previously given birth to a baby with a neural tube defect or were known to be carrying babies with the disorder.
Women with B12 concentrations below 250 ng/L before pregnancy had roughly three times the risk of having a child with a neural tube defect as those with higher B12 blood levels. Those women whose levels were less than 150 ng/L, which is considered B12 deficient, had five times the risk of women with higher levels.
The researchers used statistical techniques to focus solely on B12 levels and factor out the role of folic acid, a nutrient known to help prevent pregnant women from birthing babies with neural tube defects. The study authors noted that B12 and folate are jointly linked to several key biochemical reactions, but that a lack of either B12 or folate increased the risk of a neural tube defect.
While confirmation from other studies is needed, the authors suggested women should have vitamin B12 levels above 300 ng/L before becoming pregnant. Study co-author Dr. James L. Mills, a senior investigator in the NICHD division of epidemiology, statistics and prevention research, went further, recommending all women of childbearing age always consume the daily recommended amount of vitamin B12 and at least 400 micrograms of folic acid.
Women who are vegans and vegetarians most affected, study says
(HealthDay News) -- Women who do not have enough vitamin B12 in their blood before and after conception have a greater chance of having a baby with brain or spinal cord defects, a new study says.
Most at risk may be vegans and vegetarians, since B12 is far more common in meat and animal-based foods, noted an American and Irish research team whose findings were published in the March issue of Pediatrics..
According to the study, women with low levels of B12 had at least 2.5 times the risk of giving birth to a child with these neural tube defects, which can lead to partial paralysis or even death, than women with the highest B12 levels.
"Vitamin B12 is essential for the functioning of the nervous system and for the production of red blood cells," Dr. Duane Alexander, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, said in a news release issued by its parent organization, the U.S. National Institutes of Health. "The results of this study suggest that women with low levels of B12 not only may risk health problems of their own, but also may increase the chance that their children may be born with a serious birth defect."
Researchers analyzed blood collected during the early pregnancy stages of hundreds of women from Ireland, a country with a high rate of neural tube defects. Either the women had previously given birth to a baby with a neural tube defect or were known to be carrying babies with the disorder.
Women with B12 concentrations below 250 ng/L before pregnancy had roughly three times the risk of having a child with a neural tube defect as those with higher B12 blood levels. Those women whose levels were less than 150 ng/L, which is considered B12 deficient, had five times the risk of women with higher levels.
The researchers used statistical techniques to focus solely on B12 levels and factor out the role of folic acid, a nutrient known to help prevent pregnant women from birthing babies with neural tube defects. The study authors noted that B12 and folate are jointly linked to several key biochemical reactions, but that a lack of either B12 or folate increased the risk of a neural tube defect.
While confirmation from other studies is needed, the authors suggested women should have vitamin B12 levels above 300 ng/L before becoming pregnant. Study co-author Dr. James L. Mills, a senior investigator in the NICHD division of epidemiology, statistics and prevention research, went further, recommending all women of childbearing age always consume the daily recommended amount of vitamin B12 and at least 400 micrograms of folic acid.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Inappropriate Drug Use Wasting Millions
Antipsychotic medications are some of the most expensive and side-effect-riddled drugs on the market. And while they’re only approved to treat severe forms of mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, this recent study found that the vast majority of people receiving these powerful drugs did not have either one of those disorders.
In fact, out of the 830 Oregon Medicaid patients given the drugs, most were suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and even insomnia. These are all issues that can be handled using safe, non-drug methods, yet these people were instead given expensive and dangerous antipsychotic drugs.
Imagine visiting your doctor because you have anxiety or insomnia, then being prescribed a drug that can cause potentially even worse conditions, such as:
• Stroke and heart arrhythmias
• Moderate to severe weight gain
• Diabetes
This is exactly what happens far too often with these drugs.
Off-Label Drug Use is Common
Because doctors can legally prescribe any drug to any patient for any condition, drug companies heavily promote "off-label" and frequently inappropriate and non-tested uses of medications to doctors. In this way they can bypass the costly and time-consuming FDA approval process, yet still get their products sold to more and more people.
This happens not only with antipsychotic medications but many other drug classes as well, and to all age groups of patients. One study even found that when a "suitable alternative" did not exist, doctors gave off-label medicine to 90 percent of babies in neonatal intensive care units and 70 percent of children in pediatric intensive care units.
Worse still, children taking these medicines face a higher risk of side effects, with one estimate suggesting they suffer up to three times more side effects as a result.
Children are also often at the receiving end of these dangerous antipsychotic drugs, and they’re not being given to children for life-threatening conditions or to treat acute emergencies … they’re being prescribed for behavioral problems such as attention deficit disorder.
There is also the issue of cost. As the study above pointed out, patients are being given drugs for unapproved uses that cost $25 or more a day, when a similar generic drug that costs just $1 a day could have been prescribed instead.
While in most cases you’re better off skipping the drugs altogether (and instead opting for natural treatment methods, which I’ll get to below), if you DO decide to take a drug, there’s absolutely no point in using an exorbitantly more expensive, more dangerous and unapproved version.
So why does this keep happening?
Most would agree that it appears the drug companies will stop at nothing to sell their products; after all, billions of dollars are at stake. They are out to make a profit so enticing doctors to prescribe their drugs for as many uses as possible, regardless of whether or not they have scientific evidence to back them up, will only allow them to sell more drugs and make more profits.
Unfortunately, their gains are at your expense.
What Can You do Instead of Taking Drugs?
Psychotropic, mind-altering drugs have been a goldmine for drug makers. Through savvy marketing aimed at consumers and physicians, people are now convinced that what previously had been their normal emotions -- feelings like sadness, anger, shyness, and stress -- now fall outside of normalcy and require the use of some expensive and potentially toxic prescription pharmaceutical.
And most drugs are merely just patchwork, meant to make things "okay" temporarily as your underlying structure continues to degrade, and is subjected to side effects.
What can you do instead? A truly healthy diet and emotional wellness management are what’s needed to build and solidify your health so you can avoid all the cracks (the symptoms) that drugs patch over in the first place.
Along those lines, I’ve developed 10 basic tenets of optimal health; truths that have survived the tests of time and will push your body in the direction of healing, with no drugs needed:
1. Eat a healthy diet that’s right for your nutritional type (paying very careful attention to keeping your insulin levels down)
2. Drink plenty of clean water
3. Manage your stress
4. Exercise
5. Get appropriate sun exposure
6. Limit toxin exposure
7. Consume healthy fat, including animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil
8. Eat plenty of raw food
9. Optimize insulin and leptin levels
10. Get plenty of sleep
In fact, out of the 830 Oregon Medicaid patients given the drugs, most were suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and even insomnia. These are all issues that can be handled using safe, non-drug methods, yet these people were instead given expensive and dangerous antipsychotic drugs.
Imagine visiting your doctor because you have anxiety or insomnia, then being prescribed a drug that can cause potentially even worse conditions, such as:
• Stroke and heart arrhythmias
• Moderate to severe weight gain
• Diabetes
This is exactly what happens far too often with these drugs.
Off-Label Drug Use is Common
Because doctors can legally prescribe any drug to any patient for any condition, drug companies heavily promote "off-label" and frequently inappropriate and non-tested uses of medications to doctors. In this way they can bypass the costly and time-consuming FDA approval process, yet still get their products sold to more and more people.
This happens not only with antipsychotic medications but many other drug classes as well, and to all age groups of patients. One study even found that when a "suitable alternative" did not exist, doctors gave off-label medicine to 90 percent of babies in neonatal intensive care units and 70 percent of children in pediatric intensive care units.
Worse still, children taking these medicines face a higher risk of side effects, with one estimate suggesting they suffer up to three times more side effects as a result.
Children are also often at the receiving end of these dangerous antipsychotic drugs, and they’re not being given to children for life-threatening conditions or to treat acute emergencies … they’re being prescribed for behavioral problems such as attention deficit disorder.
There is also the issue of cost. As the study above pointed out, patients are being given drugs for unapproved uses that cost $25 or more a day, when a similar generic drug that costs just $1 a day could have been prescribed instead.
While in most cases you’re better off skipping the drugs altogether (and instead opting for natural treatment methods, which I’ll get to below), if you DO decide to take a drug, there’s absolutely no point in using an exorbitantly more expensive, more dangerous and unapproved version.
So why does this keep happening?
Most would agree that it appears the drug companies will stop at nothing to sell their products; after all, billions of dollars are at stake. They are out to make a profit so enticing doctors to prescribe their drugs for as many uses as possible, regardless of whether or not they have scientific evidence to back them up, will only allow them to sell more drugs and make more profits.
Unfortunately, their gains are at your expense.
What Can You do Instead of Taking Drugs?
Psychotropic, mind-altering drugs have been a goldmine for drug makers. Through savvy marketing aimed at consumers and physicians, people are now convinced that what previously had been their normal emotions -- feelings like sadness, anger, shyness, and stress -- now fall outside of normalcy and require the use of some expensive and potentially toxic prescription pharmaceutical.
And most drugs are merely just patchwork, meant to make things "okay" temporarily as your underlying structure continues to degrade, and is subjected to side effects.
What can you do instead? A truly healthy diet and emotional wellness management are what’s needed to build and solidify your health so you can avoid all the cracks (the symptoms) that drugs patch over in the first place.
Along those lines, I’ve developed 10 basic tenets of optimal health; truths that have survived the tests of time and will push your body in the direction of healing, with no drugs needed:
1. Eat a healthy diet that’s right for your nutritional type (paying very careful attention to keeping your insulin levels down)
2. Drink plenty of clean water
3. Manage your stress
4. Exercise
5. Get appropriate sun exposure
6. Limit toxin exposure
7. Consume healthy fat, including animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil
8. Eat plenty of raw food
9. Optimize insulin and leptin levels
10. Get plenty of sleep
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Scientists Find Gene for Tooth Enamel.
Scientists Find Gene for Tooth Enamel
Discovery might someday lead to new dental techniques
(HealthDay News) -- A gene that plays a role in immune function and the development of skin and the nervous system also controls the production of tooth enamel, Oregon State University researchers have found.
Their discovery about the gene Ctip2 (a transcription factor) could lead to new methods of repairing damaged enamel and preventing cavities, restoring teeth or even producing replacement teeth.
"It's not unusual for a gene to have multiple functions, but before this, we didn't know what regulated the production of tooth enamel," Chrissa Kioussi, an assistant professor in the college of pharmacy at Oregon State, said in a university news release. "This is the first transcription factor ever found to control the formation and maturation of ameloblasts, which are the cells that secrete enamel."
Kioussi and her colleagues studied baby mice in which the Ctip2 gene had been "knocked out" and its protein was missing. The mice had rudimentary teeth ready to erupt, but the teeth lacked the proper enamel coating and would never have been functional.
The findings appear in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Using this new information about Ctip2, it might be possible to use tooth stem cells to stimulate the growth of new teeth, Kioussi said. She noted that some researchers have successfully grown the inner portions of teeth in laboratory animal experiments, but the teeth had no hard coatings because the scientists didn't know which gene controlled enamel growth.
"A lot of work would still be needed to bring this to human applications, but it should work," Kioussi said. "It could be really cool -- a whole new approach to dental health."
Many people have problems with eroded tooth enamel, and most cavities start as a hole in tooth enamel that allows decay to begin
Discovery might someday lead to new dental techniques
(HealthDay News) -- A gene that plays a role in immune function and the development of skin and the nervous system also controls the production of tooth enamel, Oregon State University researchers have found.
Their discovery about the gene Ctip2 (a transcription factor) could lead to new methods of repairing damaged enamel and preventing cavities, restoring teeth or even producing replacement teeth.
"It's not unusual for a gene to have multiple functions, but before this, we didn't know what regulated the production of tooth enamel," Chrissa Kioussi, an assistant professor in the college of pharmacy at Oregon State, said in a university news release. "This is the first transcription factor ever found to control the formation and maturation of ameloblasts, which are the cells that secrete enamel."
Kioussi and her colleagues studied baby mice in which the Ctip2 gene had been "knocked out" and its protein was missing. The mice had rudimentary teeth ready to erupt, but the teeth lacked the proper enamel coating and would never have been functional.
The findings appear in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Using this new information about Ctip2, it might be possible to use tooth stem cells to stimulate the growth of new teeth, Kioussi said. She noted that some researchers have successfully grown the inner portions of teeth in laboratory animal experiments, but the teeth had no hard coatings because the scientists didn't know which gene controlled enamel growth.
"A lot of work would still be needed to bring this to human applications, but it should work," Kioussi said. "It could be really cool -- a whole new approach to dental health."
Many people have problems with eroded tooth enamel, and most cavities start as a hole in tooth enamel that allows decay to begin
Monday, March 16, 2009
What are enzymes and how do they benefit health?
What are Enzymes and How Do They Benefit Health?
Enzymes are also important to the digestive process. When you consume food, digestive enzymes are immediately released from your salivary glands, stomach and small intestines. They help breakdown proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
Enzymes facilitate the absorption of nutrients from the foods you eat. Without enzymes, even the most nutritious foods would not be of use to the body, as the vitamins and minerals they contain would not be properly absorbed. Foods would also move slowly through the digestive tract, resulting in discomforts such as abdominal bloating, gas, constipation and heartburn.
Systemic enzymes make up a special class of enzyme that works within every system of the body, offering complete, or systemic, health.
Enzymes May Offer the Following Health Benefits:
Promote healthy digestion and nutrient assimilation.
Help food move quickly through the digestive tract before bloating, gas, constipation and heartburn can occur.
May contribute to improved waste elimination, promoting colon and intestinal health.
Boost the immune system's effectiveness.
Enzymes are also important to the digestive process. When you consume food, digestive enzymes are immediately released from your salivary glands, stomach and small intestines. They help breakdown proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
Enzymes facilitate the absorption of nutrients from the foods you eat. Without enzymes, even the most nutritious foods would not be of use to the body, as the vitamins and minerals they contain would not be properly absorbed. Foods would also move slowly through the digestive tract, resulting in discomforts such as abdominal bloating, gas, constipation and heartburn.
Systemic enzymes make up a special class of enzyme that works within every system of the body, offering complete, or systemic, health.
Enzymes May Offer the Following Health Benefits:
Promote healthy digestion and nutrient assimilation.
Help food move quickly through the digestive tract before bloating, gas, constipation and heartburn can occur.
May contribute to improved waste elimination, promoting colon and intestinal health.
Boost the immune system's effectiveness.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Message from Shay
Dear Friends and Vibrant Readers,Your best bank account is the one you call health. The economy may be in the tank, so there's no better time than right now to re-commit to taking care of Number One. If you don't, who will?
I am no different from you--I miss a beat, skip my yoga practice, eat too much at dinner, beat myself up and sometimes get on a roll that takes several days to turn around. Such is life. We all have our programming, but the most important thing is to not give up on yourself. You are all you've got when it come to self-care--and, making amends for past infractions and slip ups. Do not give up on yourself. Re-commit, get support, stay in action.
I have been reading Dr. Christiane Northrup's book Mother-Daughter Wisdom; Understanding the Crucial Link Between Mothers, Daughters, and Health. Dr. Northrup is a wonderful writer, and this book can serve as a reference to all women as they move through their life seeking support and knowledge towards living a vibrant, healthy and productive life. It is also terrific for the younger females in your life, for helping them to understand their bodies, emotions and passages toward adulthood.
I had a mother who died young--well, early 60's seems young from where I am now. She didn't take care of herself on ANY level, so all of my programming as a child and adolescent came from a woman whose template was made up of self-defeating, self-destructive behaviors. Because of this, I have had to work my entire adult life creating a better template to live from, and it has not been easy, but it is possible.
This is why I have this heart-felt business; one based around vibrant living, living whole and complete in a responsible manner--not from the example given, but one created from nothing other then a desire to live differently from the example I was shown. The side benefit is that I am blessed with all of you who are seeking the same thing, sometimes missing a beat, but dusting off and re-committing to a rich and productive life--a life where people always come first. We are all related in the deepest and most spiritual way, and from that place there is sweet satisfaction and reward gifted daily.
Stay the course, friends. I plan to, and we can support each other along the way. You are my greatest inspiration.
If you have not checked out our new energy spray, Clean Sweep, do, it is a great addition to our apothecary. And, for those extra Holiday pounds, take the Body Type Evaluation, and support your body with the enzymes it needs to stop food cravings and promote better nutrition assimilation. The Herbal Accelerator is such an excellent product! I continue to offer two bottles for the price of one. Why? Because it works! And I want you to have that success experience I have had.
Until next time, be well, know you are good enough, because you are!!!
In vibrant health,
Shay Arave
President
Subtle Energy Solutions
ShaysWays.com
Friday, March 06, 2009
Coping with Job Loss
Coping With Job Loss
Experts say there are a number of things you can do to ease the stress of unemployment:
Tell your family about the job loss, and reassure children that it will be OK. Don't try to keep the job loss a secret, advises Dr. Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist at the University of California, Los Angeles, Neuropsychiatric Institute.
File for unemployment benefits right away, and find out about continuing your health benefits.
Take a few days of "me" time and pamper yourself to get into a better mindset.
Turn your work day into a day of looking for work.
Take some time for reflection, and use this opportunity to figure out what type of work might really make you happy, says Dr. Jeff Brantley, director of the mindfulness-based stress reduction program at Duke Integrative Medicine in North Carolina.
Don't isolate yourself. Continue to socialize. Look for volunteer opportunities, recommends Michael McKee, a psychologist at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Exercise regularly and eat well to keep yourself healthy and to help stave off depression.
If you find that you just can't shake that anxious feeling, McKee says to practice some sort of relaxation, such as prayer, meditation or yoga. Try to change your thinking by writing down three positive affirmations every day. He said this helps you realize what your best qualities are, and helps to re-channel your thoughts in a more positive way.
If you find that you just can't look for a job anymore, or if people are telling you that you're irritable or angry all the time, or if you're withdrawing from people and activities you once enjoyed, or you're turning to alcohol or other substances to feel better, seek professional help.
Experts say there are a number of things you can do to ease the stress of unemployment:
Tell your family about the job loss, and reassure children that it will be OK. Don't try to keep the job loss a secret, advises Dr. Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist at the University of California, Los Angeles, Neuropsychiatric Institute.
File for unemployment benefits right away, and find out about continuing your health benefits.
Take a few days of "me" time and pamper yourself to get into a better mindset.
Turn your work day into a day of looking for work.
Take some time for reflection, and use this opportunity to figure out what type of work might really make you happy, says Dr. Jeff Brantley, director of the mindfulness-based stress reduction program at Duke Integrative Medicine in North Carolina.
Don't isolate yourself. Continue to socialize. Look for volunteer opportunities, recommends Michael McKee, a psychologist at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Exercise regularly and eat well to keep yourself healthy and to help stave off depression.
If you find that you just can't shake that anxious feeling, McKee says to practice some sort of relaxation, such as prayer, meditation or yoga. Try to change your thinking by writing down three positive affirmations every day. He said this helps you realize what your best qualities are, and helps to re-channel your thoughts in a more positive way.
If you find that you just can't look for a job anymore, or if people are telling you that you're irritable or angry all the time, or if you're withdrawing from people and activities you once enjoyed, or you're turning to alcohol or other substances to feel better, seek professional help.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
The vital role of Zinc
Zinc works primarily through the role of enzymes.The activity of the antioxidant enzyme super oxide dismutase, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory, is dependent on zinc. Sexual development, the health of our reproductive systems, fertility, night vision, and the beautification of our skin also relies on having proper amounts of zinc.Zinc is a key member of a group of enzymes that help the body maintain its collagen supply. This is essential for skin complexion. In order for enzymes to digest damaged collagen and rebuild new collagen, zinc must be present. In this same manner, it also helps heal burns. Zinc is also helpful in reducing outward signs of aging, the prevention of wrinkles and stretch marks, and even the repair of DNA due to exposure to x-rays and radiation.
Zinc is much more readily absorbed after you have detoxified heavy metals from your system with the regular use of MSM (methyl-sulfonyl methane), chlorella, cliantro, and zeolite compounds.
The best sources of zinc, all of which must be eaten raw, include seaweeds, cacao, ants, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, pecans, cashews, pine nuts, macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, coconuts, or in angstrom-sized zinc supplements.
Thanks to David Wolfe
Also, see this...
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Dear Readers - Feb. 16, 2009
I found this graphic illustration very helpful. Anytime there is a blemish, soreness, redness, deep lines, or paleness in these areas, it's your body sending you a signal. Our E-3 Energy Cream can be applied to the areas to get unstick blocked energies in those meridians. Also, applying the cream to the soles of the feet and palms of the hand is very helpful to get energy moving again across all the meridians.Some other healing actions I personally use is to take a nice, hot bath with Epsom Salts and a dropperful of E-1 Ionic Minerals in the water. It really balances, harmonizes and relaxes. I then bathe with our absolutely transcendant Venables Valley Soaps. The scents are so pure and the soap itself is extremely emollient. I begin my day with a dropperful of E-2 and E-4 in water, and take ReleaseZyme, DigestZyme and PureZyme twice a day. At bedtime, I put E-3 on my back, and it soothes me to sleep quickly.
We've used these products for nearly 10 years now, and they have just never failed to increase my well-being. I'd love to hear from you about your experiences with these formulas, and if you haven't tried some of these, it's well worth doing so!
On another note, I do hope you'll come visit us on FaceBook and become a FAN of Subtle Energy Solutions, or join the FaceBook group. You'll find discounts for our products, blogs and other info not found anywhere else!
In vibrant health,
Shay Arave
President
Subtle Energy Solutions
To Soy or not to Soy!
THE BOTTOM LINE ON SOY
Here is an interesting excerpt of an article about the pros and cons of soy consumption. The research is actually quite confusing. Because plant-based or natural treatments and preventatives are, in most cases, safer than their synthetic counterparts, many doctors eagerly leap to the defense of soy – almost as eagerly as others rise to defame it.They say it helps all kinds of menopause symptoms. However, there is a lack of unbiased clinical research on BOTH sides, resulting in more hearsay and less fact on both sides of the issue. So what can you do?
Various Soy Products
1. Monitor your soy intake. Concerned consumers should monitor the overwhelming prevalence of soy in the American diet by reading labels carefully. In addition to the multitude of blatant soy-based foods, soy additives, oils, proteins and emulsifiers can be found hiding in unsuspecting condiments, ice creams, protein bars, processed foods, candies, chocolates, health shakes and beverages, making it easy to consume well over the 35 grams a day recommended by government health agencies. When reading labels, be aware of terms like “lecithin,” “vegetable protein,” and “natural flavoring,” all of which are code for soy. Moderation, as always, is key.
2. Eliminate soy intake if you have a high-risk for cancer. While monitoring soy intake may be enough for some, women at high risk for estrogen-dependent cancers or thyroid disease may want to abstain entirely until more research has been done. Women taking Tamoxifen or similar anti-estrogen drugs should consult with their physician about incorporating soy in their diet.
3. Breastfeed. New mothers may also want to consider milk-based formulas or breastfeeding, if possible, to reduce the risk of hormone-related complications and childhood soy allergies.
There is no reason to swear off soy entirely or panic because you have been consuming soy-based foods or drinks. Low-risk women should also keep in mind that there is a difference between isolated soy compounds and a whole food, so while taking soy supplements such as isoflavones may be dangerous for certain individuals, having the occasional bit of tofu in your pad thai or a moderate amount on a regular basis is unlikely to be detrimental.
Here is an interesting excerpt of an article about the pros and cons of soy consumption. The research is actually quite confusing. Because plant-based or natural treatments and preventatives are, in most cases, safer than their synthetic counterparts, many doctors eagerly leap to the defense of soy – almost as eagerly as others rise to defame it.They say it helps all kinds of menopause symptoms. However, there is a lack of unbiased clinical research on BOTH sides, resulting in more hearsay and less fact on both sides of the issue. So what can you do?
Various Soy Products
1. Monitor your soy intake. Concerned consumers should monitor the overwhelming prevalence of soy in the American diet by reading labels carefully. In addition to the multitude of blatant soy-based foods, soy additives, oils, proteins and emulsifiers can be found hiding in unsuspecting condiments, ice creams, protein bars, processed foods, candies, chocolates, health shakes and beverages, making it easy to consume well over the 35 grams a day recommended by government health agencies. When reading labels, be aware of terms like “lecithin,” “vegetable protein,” and “natural flavoring,” all of which are code for soy. Moderation, as always, is key.
2. Eliminate soy intake if you have a high-risk for cancer. While monitoring soy intake may be enough for some, women at high risk for estrogen-dependent cancers or thyroid disease may want to abstain entirely until more research has been done. Women taking Tamoxifen or similar anti-estrogen drugs should consult with their physician about incorporating soy in their diet.
3. Breastfeed. New mothers may also want to consider milk-based formulas or breastfeeding, if possible, to reduce the risk of hormone-related complications and childhood soy allergies.
There is no reason to swear off soy entirely or panic because you have been consuming soy-based foods or drinks. Low-risk women should also keep in mind that there is a difference between isolated soy compounds and a whole food, so while taking soy supplements such as isoflavones may be dangerous for certain individuals, having the occasional bit of tofu in your pad thai or a moderate amount on a regular basis is unlikely to be detrimental.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Vaccines found to contain mercury....duh!!!
Vaccines found to contain mercury; are vaccinations safe?
The headlines around the world are ablaze with the news that a whooping cough vaccine given to babies has been found to contain potentially dangerous levels of mercury. The vaccine is being withdrawn, and parents are now having to wait for a new vaccine that will be available in several months. The warning was issued by U.S. researchers, who suggested that mercury in vaccines could be linked to the develop of autism in children.
The real story in all of this, however, is that mercury is frequently used as a preservative in vaccines. Some amount of mercury is found in virtually every vaccine given to children, not in just this one vaccine. It is astonishing, too, that vaccinations containing mercury continue to be given to our children on a regular basis each and every year, across the country, and around the world.
Mercury, of course, is one of the most toxic substances you can put in a human body. It is a heavy metal known to contribute to neurological disorders, including autism, dementia, and even Alzheimer's disease. Mercury also tends to build up in tissues in the human body and is not easily removed, so even small exposures to mercury can accumulate over time and end up compromising the health of the person involved.
Vaccinations, it turns out, aren't really good medicine at all. Vaccinations have been known to kill children or cause severe reactions that injure them for life. As more and more parents are educating themselves about the dangers of vaccines in the United States and elsewhere, they are avoiding giving their children these vaccines, and thereby protecting the health of their children. Mercury isn't the only toxin known to be contained in vaccines -- vaccines present many other health risks, including the potential for autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes.
The internet, of course, is serving as the main conduit of information for people who want to learn more about vaccines and who want to branch outside the traditional controlled, organized medicine view of vaccination, which is, of course, that all vaccinations are safe and everybody should get vaccinated, regardless of how many people are killed by it or what kind of toxic ingredients (like mercury) are contained in the vaccines. Even following this news about the mercury being found in this one batch of vaccines, officials declare it to be perfectly safe for children, which just goes to show you how bizarre things can get when health authorities get involved.
The headlines around the world are ablaze with the news that a whooping cough vaccine given to babies has been found to contain potentially dangerous levels of mercury. The vaccine is being withdrawn, and parents are now having to wait for a new vaccine that will be available in several months. The warning was issued by U.S. researchers, who suggested that mercury in vaccines could be linked to the develop of autism in children.
The real story in all of this, however, is that mercury is frequently used as a preservative in vaccines. Some amount of mercury is found in virtually every vaccine given to children, not in just this one vaccine. It is astonishing, too, that vaccinations containing mercury continue to be given to our children on a regular basis each and every year, across the country, and around the world.
Mercury, of course, is one of the most toxic substances you can put in a human body. It is a heavy metal known to contribute to neurological disorders, including autism, dementia, and even Alzheimer's disease. Mercury also tends to build up in tissues in the human body and is not easily removed, so even small exposures to mercury can accumulate over time and end up compromising the health of the person involved.
Vaccinations, it turns out, aren't really good medicine at all. Vaccinations have been known to kill children or cause severe reactions that injure them for life. As more and more parents are educating themselves about the dangers of vaccines in the United States and elsewhere, they are avoiding giving their children these vaccines, and thereby protecting the health of their children. Mercury isn't the only toxin known to be contained in vaccines -- vaccines present many other health risks, including the potential for autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes.
The internet, of course, is serving as the main conduit of information for people who want to learn more about vaccines and who want to branch outside the traditional controlled, organized medicine view of vaccination, which is, of course, that all vaccinations are safe and everybody should get vaccinated, regardless of how many people are killed by it or what kind of toxic ingredients (like mercury) are contained in the vaccines. Even following this news about the mercury being found in this one batch of vaccines, officials declare it to be perfectly safe for children, which just goes to show you how bizarre things can get when health authorities get involved.
Friday, February 13, 2009
An egg a day, pretty good idea!
Eggs: No Longer Your Diet Enemy?
For years eggs have been portrayed as a food that you should not eat for fear of raising your blood cholesterol levels. Recent studies have proven that this is not the case and in fact eggs have been found to be a nutritional goldmine. One large egg has 210 mgs. of cholesterol which seems like a lot, but a recent study from the University of Connecticut suggests that even after eating three eggs a day for 30 days, the ratio between HDL( good cholesterol) and LDL( bad cholesterol) did not change. The result is no increase or change in one’s risk of heart disease.
In another study very significant study of 120,000 men and women conducted in 1999 at Harvard University, they found no correlation between the consumption of eggs and heart disease. Nor did the study find an association between egg consumption and strokes.
There’s also evidence that eggs help to create a feeling of fullness due to the high protein content. The Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2005, conducted a study of overweight women. In the study, those who had two eggs for breakfast felt fuller afterwards and ate fewer calories at lunch than women who had a bagel based breakfast with the same amount of calories resulting in more long term weight loss for the egg eaters.
The unsaturated fats and other nutrients including B vitamins may even be beneficial to heart health. It is the saturated fat-rich foods that are commonly consumed with eggs (bacon, sausage, cheese and biscuits) that can raise blood cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease. A large egg has only 1.5 grams of saturated fat and about 70 calories, so it is the perfect diet food…..just be sure to watch the side of bacon.
For those of you who commonly toss the vitamin rich egg yolks, take note that they are a rich source of lutein and zeaxanthin, relatives of beta carotene that keep eyes healthy and have been linked to a reduced risk of age related eye disease. A 2006 study in the Journal of Nutrition found that women eating six eggs a week for 12 weeks had increased macular pigment which is thought to protect the retina of the eye from the damaging effects of the light.
Other Eggs facts:
Brown eggs are not more nutritious than white….they just come from brown chickens.
Yolk color depends on what the chicken eats: wheat and barley produce light colored yolks, while corn produces a darker colored yolk.
Organic eggs from chickens fed an organic diet do not have more nutrients than regular eggs; however some people may prefer them as a way to support organic farming.
One large egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein (in the yolk and white) and only 70 calories. The yolk is also a source of zinc, B vitamins( including riboflavin and folate), vitamin A, Iron and other nutrients
Egg yolks provide choline an essential nutrient which is especially important for fetal brain development. There are also other elements recently identified in eggs that may have anti-cancer, anti hypertensive, immune boosting and antioxidant properties.
Low Cholesterol eggs from chickens fed special diets rarely provide enough extra nutrients to be worth their higher cost.
So ladies and gents, the bottom-line is that eggs are good for you! Most people can eat one or two a day. Just remember to skip the side of sausage and biscuits. Try poached eggs, hard boiled eggs or scrambled eggs with chopped vegetables for a big nutritional boost to your diet.
For years eggs have been portrayed as a food that you should not eat for fear of raising your blood cholesterol levels. Recent studies have proven that this is not the case and in fact eggs have been found to be a nutritional goldmine. One large egg has 210 mgs. of cholesterol which seems like a lot, but a recent study from the University of Connecticut suggests that even after eating three eggs a day for 30 days, the ratio between HDL( good cholesterol) and LDL( bad cholesterol) did not change. The result is no increase or change in one’s risk of heart disease.
In another study very significant study of 120,000 men and women conducted in 1999 at Harvard University, they found no correlation between the consumption of eggs and heart disease. Nor did the study find an association between egg consumption and strokes.
There’s also evidence that eggs help to create a feeling of fullness due to the high protein content. The Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2005, conducted a study of overweight women. In the study, those who had two eggs for breakfast felt fuller afterwards and ate fewer calories at lunch than women who had a bagel based breakfast with the same amount of calories resulting in more long term weight loss for the egg eaters.
The unsaturated fats and other nutrients including B vitamins may even be beneficial to heart health. It is the saturated fat-rich foods that are commonly consumed with eggs (bacon, sausage, cheese and biscuits) that can raise blood cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease. A large egg has only 1.5 grams of saturated fat and about 70 calories, so it is the perfect diet food…..just be sure to watch the side of bacon.
For those of you who commonly toss the vitamin rich egg yolks, take note that they are a rich source of lutein and zeaxanthin, relatives of beta carotene that keep eyes healthy and have been linked to a reduced risk of age related eye disease. A 2006 study in the Journal of Nutrition found that women eating six eggs a week for 12 weeks had increased macular pigment which is thought to protect the retina of the eye from the damaging effects of the light.
Other Eggs facts:
Brown eggs are not more nutritious than white….they just come from brown chickens.
Yolk color depends on what the chicken eats: wheat and barley produce light colored yolks, while corn produces a darker colored yolk.
Organic eggs from chickens fed an organic diet do not have more nutrients than regular eggs; however some people may prefer them as a way to support organic farming.
One large egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein (in the yolk and white) and only 70 calories. The yolk is also a source of zinc, B vitamins( including riboflavin and folate), vitamin A, Iron and other nutrients
Egg yolks provide choline an essential nutrient which is especially important for fetal brain development. There are also other elements recently identified in eggs that may have anti-cancer, anti hypertensive, immune boosting and antioxidant properties.
Low Cholesterol eggs from chickens fed special diets rarely provide enough extra nutrients to be worth their higher cost.
So ladies and gents, the bottom-line is that eggs are good for you! Most people can eat one or two a day. Just remember to skip the side of sausage and biscuits. Try poached eggs, hard boiled eggs or scrambled eggs with chopped vegetables for a big nutritional boost to your diet.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Hot Flashes and Brain Fog...
Brain fog and hot flashes seems to be a common complaint of middle aged women. In fact 40 percent of women over 48 complain of forgetfulness and over 85 percent of menopausal women complain of hot flashes.
A recent study of 29 middle aged women with moderate to severe hot flashes suggests that there might indeed be a connection. The women were provided with monitors that measured changes in skin conductance during a hot flash. Hot flashes were recorded for a full 24-hour period, with the average number of hot flashes coming to 19.5 per day.
During this period, the study also measured memory performance -- the recollection of words, names, word pairs, paragraphs and stories -- using standard neuropsychological tests.
When researchers looked at the relationship between the hot flashes that the monitor picked up and the memory performance on the cognitive tests, they found a very strong relationship. The study showed that the more true hot flashes a woman had, the worse her memory performance became.
It seems that the hot flash-memory relationship is not all in a woman’s head. It’s actually a physiological relationship that can be monitored. Another factory which worsened the memory performance was lack of sleep. The women having the least amount of sleep before the study had the worst memory performance.
So ladies, this is good news. Be sure to get plenty of sleep and rest assured that your memory will most likely improve once your hot flashes and night sweats improve.
A recent study of 29 middle aged women with moderate to severe hot flashes suggests that there might indeed be a connection. The women were provided with monitors that measured changes in skin conductance during a hot flash. Hot flashes were recorded for a full 24-hour period, with the average number of hot flashes coming to 19.5 per day.
During this period, the study also measured memory performance -- the recollection of words, names, word pairs, paragraphs and stories -- using standard neuropsychological tests.
When researchers looked at the relationship between the hot flashes that the monitor picked up and the memory performance on the cognitive tests, they found a very strong relationship. The study showed that the more true hot flashes a woman had, the worse her memory performance became.
It seems that the hot flash-memory relationship is not all in a woman’s head. It’s actually a physiological relationship that can be monitored. Another factory which worsened the memory performance was lack of sleep. The women having the least amount of sleep before the study had the worst memory performance.
So ladies, this is good news. Be sure to get plenty of sleep and rest assured that your memory will most likely improve once your hot flashes and night sweats improve.
Vitamin D and Pain...
Some scientists believe that Low levels of the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D, may contribute to chronic pain in women. The link does not apply to men, suggesting that hormones may be involved, according to a study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.
It seems that about 1 in 10 people are affected by chronic pain The causes are not well understood and much of the focus to date has been on emotional factors, however, some researchers believe that, vitamin D levels could play a role in some cases of chronic pain.
Vitamin D sometimes known as the sunshine vitamin is essential for healthy bones. It is produced in the body when exposed to sunlight and is also found in oily fish, egg yolks and margarine.
Of the 7,000 men and women aged 45 studied, those who were smokers, non-drinkers, the overweight and the underweight all reported higher rates of chronic pain.
Among the women, vitamin D levels also appeared to be important.
Women with vitamin D levels between 75 and 99 mmol/litre - a level deemed necessary for bone health - had the lowest rates of this type of pain, at just over 8%.
Women with levels of less than 25 mmol/litre had the highest rates, at 14.4%.
The findings suggest that more research is needed to fully evaluate whether vitamin D supplements could help prevent chronic pain.
In the meantime, if you have chronic pain it wouldn’t hurt to get out in the sun a bit more to boost your natural vitamin D levels. Most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from their diet and by adding 30 minutes of sunshine to their daily schedule
It seems that about 1 in 10 people are affected by chronic pain The causes are not well understood and much of the focus to date has been on emotional factors, however, some researchers believe that, vitamin D levels could play a role in some cases of chronic pain.
Vitamin D sometimes known as the sunshine vitamin is essential for healthy bones. It is produced in the body when exposed to sunlight and is also found in oily fish, egg yolks and margarine.
Of the 7,000 men and women aged 45 studied, those who were smokers, non-drinkers, the overweight and the underweight all reported higher rates of chronic pain.
Among the women, vitamin D levels also appeared to be important.
Women with vitamin D levels between 75 and 99 mmol/litre - a level deemed necessary for bone health - had the lowest rates of this type of pain, at just over 8%.
Women with levels of less than 25 mmol/litre had the highest rates, at 14.4%.
The findings suggest that more research is needed to fully evaluate whether vitamin D supplements could help prevent chronic pain.
In the meantime, if you have chronic pain it wouldn’t hurt to get out in the sun a bit more to boost your natural vitamin D levels. Most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from their diet and by adding 30 minutes of sunshine to their daily schedule
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