AVOCADO! Reducing fat in cooking for health.

I have been using avocado like it's going out of style.  When I make a salad dressing, the oil in the recipe gets replaced by half of a ripe avocado.  Smoothies take on an extra special smoothie-ness with an avocado.  Baked goods like corn bread, muffins, rolls and cookies (sweetened naturally with honey, of course) are super moist and bind well when I add an avocado and ground flax seed to replace the oil and egg in the recipe. 

Avocado can get a bad wrap at times because of its fat content; however, when used as a whole food, avocado has many fantastic health benefits.  This Mercola.com article lists many beneficial nutrients such as potassium, fiber, vitamins B and E, folic acid and many more.  While being rich in nutrients, it also has been shown to have protective and restorative properties for the liver as well as cancer fighting properties.  Don't use processed avocado oil, unless you put it on your skin!  There are many great phytochemicals to benefit from when you eat the whole food!

But wait, there's more!  Avocado does not need to be organic to be healthy!  You can buy conventionally grown avocados and not worry about pesticides.  The fruit's thick skin is like a coat of armor against pests.  It isn't armor for people, though!  When cutting open an avocado, use a sharp knife to divide it from stem to blossom end all the way around the pit.  Twist and pull into two halves.  To free the retained pit from one of the halves, just use your sharp knife to "karate chop" into the pit.  Now rotate the knife and the pit is free.  Just use a big spoon and scoop out the avocado flesh.   

I have a dressing and guaca-salsa recipe to share with you at the bottom of this post, but I also thought it would be good to post this little video from the Mercola article mentioned above.  Before the video, I never thought to combine coconut cream with avocado to make a whipped topping!

Avocado Uses and Health Benefits

Balsamic Vinaigrette ~ my favorite dressing!

1/2 cup water

1/2 ripe avocado

1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar

2-3 cloves fresh garlic

2 T honey or maple syrup

1 T raw apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 tsp salt

1 T dehydrated sweet red bell pepper or 1/2 red pepper roasted and peeled

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend at high speed until smooth and has a creamy texture.  The size of your avocado may require you to add more water in order to thin the dressing to desired consistency, up to 1/2 cup more water.  Store in air tight container and refrigerate.  This keeps for several weeks in the refrigerator.

This next recipe is not original to me.  A friend made up something similar one day to bring to a pot luck lunch.  It went well with all of the other fresh foods that we ate in combination.  It makes a great salad topping and substitute for dressing.  It is also amazing on oat burgers, bean burgers and veggie tacos.

Easy Guac-salsa ~ a great salad or bean dish topping

2 ripe avocados, diced

2 tomatoes, diced

1/2 red onion, chopped in small pieces

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Juice of 1 large lime

1/2 tsp garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

Toss ingredients together and serve.  *Spice it up with some chili powder or cayenne if desired.  You can also stir in some cooked quinoa and eat this like a main dish.  

A refreshing reminder of why we live the Plant-based life style

Life has been quite busy for me, but our life style has remained unchanged.  We are living in an area where it is necessary to filter our water.  We are using shower filters purchased through mercola.com, which removes the risk of absorbing ground water contaminants as well as chlorine.  We also installed a reverse osmosis water system (gifted to us by a generous family member) under the kitchen sink so that we can have pure drinking water.  I use the water from the RO system for drinking, washing vegetables, cooking and making almond milk.  I try to draw off a gallon at a time and add some unrefined sea salt to it in order to restore some trace minerals back into the water.

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to interact with people on a social level and still maintain the healthy changes we have incorporated in our lives.  Ethnic restaurants have been the best places to find healthy side dishes to order - baked white or sweet potato, pasta, beans and rice with vegetables, and of course green salads are offered just about anywhere.

Here is a link to a really good video that encouraged me today.  If you can't watch the video, just click the "view transcript" button and read.  Good stuff.

THE LINK  - Carnitine, Choline Cancer and Cholesterol: TMAO Connection

God bless you!  Eat your vegetables!

Still drinking morning green juices!

Don't I look excited?!  It actually tastes pretty good with the fresh garden kale and carrots.

Some really great things have happened since my husband and I started drinking raw green juices.  We use a Hurom slow juicer which works very well to effectively extract the healing plant nutrients from raw green "super foods."  Also, we alternate between juiced greens and smoothies (with a Vitamix).  Whether we have a green juice or smoothie, we always add beneficial herbs to boost the immune system and fight off cancer.  Here is a list of what we put in this juice today:

2 cups chopped kale - organic

2 cups green cabbage

2 organic green apples 

10-12 organic carrots (medium sized)

4-5 stalks organic celery

1/3 organic golden beet

6" piece of cucumber

1 organic lemon, peeled

2 T freshly ground organic flax seed (why and how?)

2 tsp ground coriander (the seed from cilantro) (why?) 

1 inch piece of ginger root (why?)

1 T organic ground turmeric (why?)

1/4 tsp ground black pepper (why?)

I have mentioned in previous blogs that our health has made a turn-around since eating a plant based diet.  Adam is feeling well after stopping his chemo treatments early to focus on nutrition as a solution to restoring his health.  We both have more energy and mental focus.  I no longer require allergy medicine or any treatment for acid reflux.  But here are a couple of additional things that I haven't mentioned, yet:  My hair went curly (it was straightened before this photo), I no longer require corrective lenses to drive (though I need help with reading glasses in low light or fine print), our cholesterol levels dropped to 150, our blood pressure is normal, we sleep better (except for occasional stress caused by life), we rarely "catch" the communicable illnesses with which we regularly come in contact AND when we feel something coming on we can stave it off with fresh raw garlic.  

There is one thing that has surfaced which has been a progressive problem for me.  My thyroid function now requires some support and has been the cause of many health issues throughout my adult life.  We found a naturopathic physician who was able to help me.  I hope to blog about thyroid in the future; but until then, I will say that it is probably one of the most overlooked and under addressed issue in women's health today.  My understanding of thyroid and the options for the most natural approach to balance are incomplete.  This is a new journey for me and I'm praying for God's direction.  He gives great guidance!

Mac & Cheese - no soy, no dairy, gluten free, delish!

Before changing to a plant based diet, we used to eat a big pan of mac and cheese every week.  It was comfort food for me.  I felt determined to find a healthy alternative to this family favorite and came up with this recipe that doesn't call for nutritional yeast, soy or other seasoning additives which are high in glutamic acids - which result in a bad case of hiccups or heartburn and indigestion.  See what you think!  I wonder how long before I see a version of this recipe on some other plant based site!  :P

Mac & Cheese plant-based style

24 oz GF brown rice macaroni
3 cups cauliflower, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cups raw cashews, toasted (toasting is very important for the flavor)
2 T vinegar
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1-2 tsp salt - add to desired taste after blending "cheese" 

Boil macaroni according to directions on package, drain and set aside.  While macaroni is cooking, steam cauliflower, garlic and onion in covered pan with 2-3 cups of water (reserve liquid after cooking).  Once cauliflower is very tender, drain and reserve liquid.  Allow to cool slightly while toasting cashews: In a saute pan, heat cashews until golden - stirring continually to prevent burning.  Remove from heat.  Place cauliflower mixture, cashews and remaining ingredients, except salt, in a high speed blender or food processor.  Add 1 cup of reserved cooking liquid to begin blending.  Add additional liquid to thin "cheese" to desired consistency.  If necessary, add extra hot water.  Blend until very smooth and creamy.   Add 1 teaspoon of salt, taste and add additional salt as desired.  Toss macaroni with "cheese" mixture and serve.  Left overs keep in the refrigerator and heat up well in a microwave or on the stove top with a little almond milk added. 

Sprouts

 Sprouts! Sprouts! Sprouts!

Grow indoors all year

I have a new garden.  It is indoors and requires no soil, no organic pest control and no direct sun light.  I'm running my very own sprouting garden and I highly recommend that you give it a try if you don't already sprout!  It is always sprouting season - sprout year 'round.

Super economical

If you would like to try it without investing in sprouting equipment, rest assured that anyone can sprout just about anything anywhere at any time.  I recommend starting with beans.  They are large and fun to watch as they sprout very quickly. Lentils are my favorite bean to sprout because they are the smallest type of bean. The above picture is of very poor quality, but you can see my lentil sprouts in the jar on the right in both pictures and spread out on the cutting board in the pile of sprouts on the right side.  These tasty little treats have a mild flavor with a tender crunch.  They are delicious in salads, stir fried with other vegetables, added to soups or blended in smoothies to boost nutrition.  

Easy to digest and absorb - bioavailability

The bowl in the center of the above picture is full of sprouted "chickpeas" or garbanzo beans.  My husband and I have found that garbanzos really give us the toots and lots of discomfort when we eat them.  After I started sprouting at home, I decided to try sprouting garbanzos.  I made a raw humus with them, mixed in some cooked rice, added some curry powder and turned them into bean burgers.  They were delish and we never noticed an increase in gas or discomfort.  Why, you ask?  Dry legumes, grains, nuts and seeds have a natural toxin on their outer coating, causing trouble with digestion and resulting in reduced absorption of nutrients.  The remedy to this problem is to bring them to life!  Nuts, grains, seeds and legumes are a living food in the dormant state.  By soaking them, these wonderful whole foods come to life and begin to transform their dormant energy into fresh phytochemicals for health.  Sprouting causes vitamin A to double and vitamins C and B to increase up to ten fold.  In addition, sprouted foods provide a sort-of pre-digested food because the starches and proteins are broken down to simpler and smaller molecules.  Young children who are being introduced to new foods such as wheat and nuts (which can cause a food allergy) can start with the less threatening sprouted form of these foods and receive even more of the nutritional benefit.  Whole wheat berries should be soaked for at least 7 hours, rinsed and drained before grinding to optimize the food value and reduce the risk of developing a food allergy.        

How to sprout

• Use a large clean glass jar - 2 quart size is ideal

• Cover 3-4 Tablespoons of dry lentils with water
• Allow to soak at least 8 hours (I do this overnight)
• Drain and rinse lentils, return to jar and rotate jar to spread out the lentils
• Cover jar with cheese cloth or similar material to allow air flow but protect the lentils from dust or pests.  Use a rubber band to hold the cloth on the jar.
• Lay the jar on its side away from direct sunlight, slightly tipped to drain any remaining moisture.
• Rinse lentils 2-4 times daily to keep them moist and free from mold.
• Allow the sprouts to develop green tops, about 4 days, rinse and store in the refrigerator up to two weeks while you eat them up!

If you like pictures, www.seriouseats.com has a slide show that is a pretty thorough step-by-step tutorial for sprouting. 

Tell me - in the comments section - what foods you like to sprout.  If you try it for the first time, I would love to hear what you think.  This is a super fun project for kids who love to grow what they eat!  

  

Save your brain with a healthy lifestyle

From mild cognitive impairment to full blown dementia such as Alzheimer's disease, there are several things in common that you can do to protect the health of your brain.  Dr. Neal Barnard covers 8 lifestyle points to consider in the following video from a lecture given at a University of New England Center for a Global Humanities event.

Studies have shown that genetics don't have to dictate disease, but rather lifestyle can dictate or suppress genetic expression.  A poor diet, exposure to toxic substances, lack of sleep or exercise and vitamin deficiencies can influence the expression of genetic predispositions.  However, when healthy lifestyle disciplines are practiced over a majority of a person's lifetime, the potential or genetic risk of disease need never manifest.  In the case of Alzheimer's, diabetes or cancer, the genes that are associated with these diseases are merely "suggestive" genes.  These genes depend on the exposure to poor lifestyle in order to be displayed.

In the case of Alzheimer's disease, the brain develops plaques made up of Beta-amyloid protein, cholesterol and metals such as iron and copper.  The source of cholesterol is animal foods such as meat, dairy, eggs, cheese, etc.  The metals found in the plaque is from food that comes in contact with iron or aluminum cookware and aluminum foil.  Drinking water contains copper when run through copper plumbing pipes, and some municipal water systems add aluminum at the purification plant because aluminum precipitates solids.  Where the aluminum is filtered back out of the water, there is no harm; however, when the aluminum levels  in drinking water exceed 0.11 mg/L, the risk of Alzheimer's disease increases by 50%.  Aluminum is also in baking powder and antiperspirants, but there are aluminum free options for these products.  Metals in the body become oxidized and cause damage to cells, but vitamin E in foods such as nuts, seeds, mangoes sweet potatoes, flax seeds and spinach offer anti-oxidant protection.  A vitamin E supplement may not have all 8 forms of vitamin E which are found naturally in vitamin E rich foods - so don't do the supplement.  Omega 3 fats found in flax seeds and nuts are also protective as an anti-oxidant.  A fantastic source of omega 3 fat, not mentioned in the following video, is an edible herb called purslane.  This is something that you can easily grow in your garden or may even be growing naturally in your yard as it is a common weed.  Check it out at this link - purslane.

Homocysteine is a waste product of the body.  When the level of homocysteine is elevated, it can be damaging to the cardiovascular system and the brain.  No worries, however, if you eat foods that are rich in folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.  Folate is found in green leafy vegetables; B6 is found in legumes or bananas; and B12 in fortified soymilk (B12 should be supplemented on a plant based diet that is soymilk free).

The purple colored anti-oxidant anthocyanin found in foods like grapes, blueberries and blackberries have been found in studies to improve recall and learning in patients with mild cognitive impairment.  In like manor, other colorful fruits and vegetables with their respective anti-oxidant phytochemicals have been shown to have powerful protective benefits for brain health. 

Physical activity protects the brain from shrinkage and improves memory.  The recommendation to achieve this benefit is 40 minutes of brisk walking, three times a week.  Also, knowing a second language has been shown to delay cognitive decline by up to 5 years.  Other mentally stimulating activities are beneficial for brain health.  One option for mental activity is through a web-based human cognitive service available at luminosity.com where you can play brain games to improve memory and cognitive function.

Sleep is important.  The brain needs rest to process the information gathered during the waking hours.  The first half of a person's sleep cycle is used to file away the words and facts from the day and the second half of the cycle is the dream cycle where the brain integrates emotions.  Going to bed by 10 pm will ensure that your brain makes enough melatonin which keeps your sleep cycle unbroken until you have had a complete night's rest.

Medications can affect memory.  Some that are listed in Dr. Barnard's lecture are the following: Midazolam, cholesterol lowering drugs, sleeping medications, antidepressants, antihistamines, anxiety medication, blood pressure medications, acid blockers.  Medicines add up or can work together to cause memory loss, so be mindful of medications when considering your or a loved-ones cognitive impairment.

An interesting Q&A at the end of the video includes a question regarding the fad movement toward eating low carbohydrates (Paleo, Grain Brain or Wheat Belly followers).  Barnard notes that the nations where Alzheimer's used to be rare because of their plant and whole-grain based diets are now experiencing a rise in Alzheimer's due to the influence of the western diet (with high consumption of animal products).  Another question was brought up about coconut oil being a solid at room temperature, thus being a saturated fat.  Barnard feels that coconut oil is not a good oil choice.

I must note that I don't agree with Barnard's evaluation of how mankind evolved to eat meat or grains.  He references Dr. Leaky's explanation of diet transition over the course of human history.  As a Biblical creationist, I would like to share my opinion about the diet of ancient mankind.  According to the Bible, which is the oldest and most accurate account of the human history, God created mankind (Adam and Eve) and gave them the green herbs, legumes, seeds, grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables for food.  That's a plant-based diet and I believe mankind began eating as the Bible describes in Genesis chapter 1.  I find that the Biblical account is logical as the Creator, who designed mankind to process or digest certain food for fuel, with great wisdom also instructed man to consume that food.

In all other regards, this video was very encouraging to me as I continue in the new lifestyle of a plant-based diet.  It has been a fantastic journey toward health and I look forward to sharing some personal testimonies of transformation through diet change in the future.  In the meantime, check out this video!   

Neal Barnard, M.D.: Power Foods for the Brain

1. Avoid bad fats
2. Avoid excess metals
3. Consume vitamin rich foods
4. Get enough vitamin B12
5. Get regular physical activity
6. Engage in mental stimulation
7. Sleep
8. Be mindful of medications that affect memory

Natural Prevention and Relief from Winter Crud

I hope this blog post finds you in good health.  Unfortunately, this is the time of year when many are succumbing to the viruses that invade entire communities.   There are some things you can do to find relief while you fight communicable illnesses like the common cold or flu.

An ounce of prevention . . .

There are signs posted in every medical facility reminding patients to cover their coughs, wash hands, etc., etc.  What about the people who aren't sick?  What can be done to prevent "catching" the crud?  

Coconut oil is anti-microbial and anti-viral.  Try taking it internally to attack viruses that make it into your GI tract.  Put some on a Q-tip and swab the inside of your nose, liberally, to put an anti-viral coating where viruses find easy entrance into the body.  Not only does it prevent illness, but it also soothes dry nasal passages during the heating months of the year.  Finally, use coconut oil to moisturize your skin . . . and provide another layer of anti-viral protection.  Those little viruses are pretty clever and can find their way into your body from every angle.

Eat raw garlic.  Take 1-2 cloves of minced garlic in a small amount of water.  If you like the experience of something hot, then chew your clove of garlic.  Now that will clear your sinuses!  Raw garlic is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.  It packs a punch and will curb many oncoming illnesses.  Bonus point: raw garlic is at the top of the list of cancer fighting foods.

Eat a plate full of raw green salad everyday.  It's full of antioxidants, friendly bacteria, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that boost your body's immune system.  You can't fight the crud if your body is starved of good nutrition.

Don't eat sugar.  It makes the gut acidic which reduces healthy gut flora and results in lowered immunity.  You lose ground in fighting off germs when you eat sugar - weakening your body for up to 6 hours after consumption.

  

When you feel it coming on . . .   

Take vitamin C.  This sounds rather cliche, but there is evidence that, when the dosage is correct for you, illness can be completely avoided.  The trick is to take doses every 30 minutes until bowel tolerance is achieved.    This website - chrisbeatcancer.com - has a well written article on how to use vitamin C to treat illness from the common cold to cancer and more.  Click here to see Chris Wark's article.  He includes a chart that identifies the proper dosage for each illness that will respond to vitamin C.  Check it out!

When you are hanging on by a thread . . .

Some people may feel that it's just too late and there seems little to do but give in and be sick. 

 I still think it is worth doing the vitamin C thing.

  

The quality of nutrition is important, too.  Avoiding sugar is paramount! 

Try some home remedies for relief . . .

White Pine needle tea could help, especially with upper respiratory flu.  I posted on this last year, so if you are interested click here.

Another remedy, told to me by a friend with native American heritage, is mullein tea.  I always called this plant "nature's toilet paper" because it has soft leaves and grows in abundance in my part of the country.  The leaves have some powerful herbal benefits.  Five leaves can be steeped in boiling water for 5-10 minutes.  It tastes like green tea.  The benefits are quite numerous: anti-nausea, anti-diarrhea, and expectorant to name the most important.  Of course, the plants are under a few feet of snow this time of year, but if you plan ahead and harvest leaves during the summer, you can dry them and have them ready for such an unfortunate event as the flu.  If you want mullein leaf, it is available online at  Mountain Rose Herbs.

Steaming with a few drops of camphor essential oils can relieve sinus pressure and soothe a nagging cough.  Boil some water and pour it into a wide and shallow pan or bowl.  Drop any, a combination or all of the following into the water: peppermint oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil, cinnamon oil.  Be ready with a towel over your head to take in the first vapors as soon as you drop them in.  You will have to lift your head and take a break from time to time.  These essential oils not only provide a soothing camphor but also benefit in being anti-inflammatory to help with swollen sinus passages.

May God bless you and give you health!

Link up to some "Healthy Holiday Gift Ideas"

Here's a great list of ideas for the Christmas season.  Chris Wark has posted a list on his website that you should check out!  You should even check it out for yourself.  There are some great products highlighted to offer health benefits to you and your family - like the Berkey water filtration system that provides purified water for people who have fluoride, chlorine or arsenic in their water.  Here is a great video from Chris that covers the Berkey and why you HAVE to get that fluoride out of your water! (Fluoride destroys the pineal gland and the thyroid!)

Here's the link!  2013 Healthy Holidays Gift Ideas from Chrisbeatcancer.com

Happy Shopping on black Friday!

A Very Different Thanksgiving - Eating Plant Based

Mashed Potatoes with Rich Brown Gravy

Maple roasted Brussels sprouts - recipe below

Oat Burgers tweaked with poultry seasonings

Salad: Romaine, spinach, avocado, tomato topped with Fustini's Black Currant Balsamic

Our pie was so delicious that we had seconds!

 Gluten free crust: ground flax seed, walnut meal, coconut oil and salt (unbaked, refrigerated)

Lemon pie filling: recipe from the back of Ener G Egg Replacer

Just like everyone else, we have leftovers - without the risk of food poisoning.

When my husband started shooting pictures of our Thanksgiving meal for two, I started to feel panicked and ashamed.  I knew that he would post the pictures of our meal online for friends to see.  I was embarrassed and didn't want to think that anyone would judge us for what was on our plate.  It didn't have all the traditional colors or traditional foods that I grew up with and raised my kids to eat for a Thanksgiving feast.  Once I confessed my embarrassment, Adam wanted to spare me of the negative feelings and didn't post the pictures.  It is difficult for him to understand why I feel so ashamed of our food.  After all, the food is absolutely delicious and completely filling.  If I had prepared anything more with this meal, we would not have been able to eat it.  I pondered the reason for my feelings and I can honestly say that I have no idea what is wrong with me.  The only conclusion that I can come up with at this point is that, because we now eat so differently than most people we know, I have a hard time breaking away from wanting to celebrate like everyone else.  It's not that I want to eat what everyone else is eating.  I just want to fit in.  I just want to include myself in the masses of people who celebrate the blessings that God has given us over the last year.

Truthfully, I'm glad that we had this holiday alone together when I could cook the way I always cook and enjoy a meal that did not bother my stomach, give me gas, result in heartburn, make me fatigued, and cause me to gain weight - which would have followed hours of labor in the kitchen.  I started our meal at 11:30am and we sat down to eat an hour later.  Kitchen is cleaned and I am about to brew a cup of decaf organic coffee creamed with home made almond milk. I still have plenty of energy to walk my pets, call a few family members and lots of cognitive power to enjoy the best part of our day - praying together.  Since we live in a world of uncertainty, centering life on God who never changes brings us great peace and fullness of joy.

Maple Roasted Brussels sprouts

1 pound sprouts

1 Tablespoon grape seed oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/8 tsp or less cayenne pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

salt

In a bowl, drizzle washed Brussels sprouts with maple syrup and oil.  Sprinkle with garlic powder, cayenne, and salt to taste.  Place on a baking sheet and roast in oven at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until fork tender.  If you watch them roast for an additional 5 minutes or so, they will begin to darken and get crisp edges because of the maple syrup.  Watch closely if you try this as they can quickly burn!  Delish!!!!   

Happy Thanksgiving!!

If you struggle with the same feelings about eating plant based, I would love to hear your story.  Please comment on this post if you are willing to share 

Gluten Free Apple Bake - Vegan

(Thank you, Marilyn, for the inspiration and creativity of this dish!)

Ingredients

About 3 lb cooking apples (ie. Spy, Ida Red, Cortland) - sliced, unpeeled
1 cup water
1/4 c sugar or dry sweetener (sucanat or other natural sugar)
Cinnamon (for liberal seasoning)
1 and 1/2 cup raisins
2 T lemon zest
salt
*walnuts or pecans optional

Topping

3/4 cup ground flax seed
2 cups oatmeal, ground into flour (to be gluten free, use GF oats)
1/2 cup unrefined, virgin coconut oil
2/3 cup walnut meal or desired chopped nuts
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/8 tsp salt

In a 9"x 13" glass baking pan, place enough sliced apples in bottom of pan to fill pan half full.  Add water.  Sprinkle with the raisins, sugar and add nuts if desired.  Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon, 2 T lemon zest and lightly salt the whole layer (less than a pinch of salt).  Fill the pan and slightly heap with more apple slices.  Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon, add nuts if desired and another light sprinkle of salt.

To make topping, place all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.  Crumble the topping over apples.  Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Watch the topping half way through baking time to be sure that it is not over cooking.  A piece of foil can be laid over the top to prevent burning if necessary.  Apples will puff up and be fork tender when fully baked. 

Prevent tooth decay with THIS

Oral use of Iodine can prevent cavities from early childhood.

Iodine kills germs.  It has been used as a preparation for skin before surgery since medical doctors understood germs and how to prevent infection.  What I had never thought or heard before was that iodine could be an effective way to kill tooth-decay causing germs.  

Dr. David Kennedy, DDS explains, in the following video, that fluoride is proven to be ineffective in preventing tooth decay.  Fluoride is toxic when ingested or when it comes in contact and absorbed by the skin.  However, iodine is non-toxic to humans.  In fact, iodine is an essential nutrient for the function of the thyroid.  The thyroid produces thyroid hormone upon which every cell of the body is dependent.  (The thyroid is incapable of producing hormone in the absence of iodine.  This will be another blog post.) Thus, iodine is an excellent, non-toxic, topical treatment for dental care.   Dr. Kennedy explains that the oral disease causing germs are "swimmers".  The germs are introduced to children by age 2 (generally through the mother who has dental decay).  As the child ages, the germs work on the gums and teeth until a cavity forms, gums recede, or teeth fall out.  You can't brush these germs away; but you can flush them away with an irrigation system for oral care.  Dr. Kennedy has a recipe for oral health video that I will post as a second video.

Fluoride Does Not Reduce Tooth Decay - But THIS Does

Dr. David Kennedy, DDS

Recipe for Oral Health by Dr. David Kennedy

Oral Health recipe

1 Quart glass jar

1 inch of salt in the bottom of jar

1 inch of baking soda (on top of salt)

hot water to fill jar

Shake jar until mixed.  Allow to sit under the counter until the salt and soda settles.  The liquid portion of this solution is saturated.  Do not shake before adding to the irrigation system.  Pour off some of the liquid portion and dilute one part solution with one part warm water for oral irrigation after usual brushing and flossing of the teeth.  A "splash" of iodine an also be added to the irrigation solution.  Set irrigation system on low setting, irrigate between and around every tooth.  When all of solution is used, rinse the system with clean water or it will not work the next time you use it!   

With a proper diet, drinking and bathing in clean (fluoride and chlorine free) water, and proper oral care, one should never need to have intervention for tooth decay!  I make my own toothpaste in order to eliminate exposure to the chemicals fluoride and aspartame which are so common in manufactured dental products.  For more information about the health hazards of commercially manufactured toothpaste, check out my blog: Why I don't use Toothpaste or Chew Gum

Dr. Kennedy's website also has a one hour documentary on fluoride in America. I haven't watched this film, yet - so I hesitate to share the link.  Once I watch it, I may have a comment or two.   Fluoridegate - the film

Chicken is NOT health food!

There are many more reasons to avoid poultry besides the presence of fecal bacteria!

It has happened again.  A nationwide outbreak of salmonella has hit the USA with a vengeance, sickening hundreds of people - this time via raw chicken.  USA Today  reports that the illness is in 18 states so far.  Articles following this food borne illness often advise everyone to handle their chicken "safely" and to cook meat thoroughly before eating.  The truth is, however, that there is no way to escape the cross contamination of chicken fecal bacteria to your body, kitchen surfaces, utensils and other foods for hours or days after handling raw chicken.  The same is true when handling raw egg.  In the following two minute video, Dr. Greger explains that salmonella remains indestructible when you bring chicken products into your kitchen.

Total recall - nutritionfacts.org

You can't escape salmonella cross contamination even if you incinerate the egg!

Just now you are probably thinking, "Turkey!  I'll just switch to turkey instead of chicken."  Not.  Turkey meat has been found to carry even more fecal bacteria with just as many disease hazards as handling chicken.  See this article about turkey here.

Fecal bacteria like salmonella is only one of the health hazards of handling and consuming poultry.  Check out this article,  Nutrionfacts.org, to see the long list of diseases that are traced back to exposure or consumption of poultry.  Here is a short list of the most common illnesses that have been positively linked to poultry:

• Lymphoma (non-Hodgkins type)
• Leukemia
• Urinary tract infections
• Obesity via the obesogenic virus
• Superbug contamination

My favorite reasons to avoid chicken:

• High methionine content.  Chicken and fish are the highest sources of methionine.  Cancer cells thrive on this amino acid and studies have shown positive connection between consumption of small amounts (just 1/2 breast) of chicken and growth of cancer in humans.
• Highest content of saturated fats.  Eggs in particular, but also chicken flesh, is very high in saturated fat which is the cause of elevated cholesterol which leads to artery disease.  (Removing the skin of the chicken does not eliminate the saturated fat in the meat.)  The cholesterol in one egg is equivalent to that of an 8 ounce steak.  Imagine eating two 8 ounce steaks every morning for breakfast!  That kind of artery clogging power can even cause a child to have a high blood cholesterol count.

Stage 4 Colon Cancer Healed without Chemo or Radiation!

          Ivelisse Page Healed Stage 4 Colon Cancer with Mistletoe!

Here are a few links that you can check out:

  

chrisbeatcancer.com  

Chris also has an archive post on Study: Mistletoe Effective Against Cancer  

Believebig.org is Ivelisse's organization which is raising donations to fund the US study of mistletoe therapy.   Her site has this link to help you understand the uses of mistletoe in cancer treatment.  There are also encouraging and informational videos on this site.

I found weleda skin care products, but the mistletoe extract used for fighting cancer is difficult to find.  If you are looking for mistletoe, I suggest finding a doctor of natural medicine or interview with oncologists, as did Ivelisse, until you find one who will work with your requests.  

Vaccine Safety - Be Informed!

Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

www.canaryparty.org

Bill Gates Admits Vaccines Are Used For Human Depopulation

I would have to say that vaccinations have always troubled me.  Though I could never really explain my inclination to avoid them, I managed to choose a less than recommended pathway for my minor children.  Each of our children were overdue for most of the vaccines and were thus required to have them at an older age.  If a new vaccine was offered, I declined it until the vaccine was made mandatory - many shots were not given until our kids needed them for college admittance.  Thankfully, we completely avoided the Gardasil vaccine.  A few years after refusing Gardasil for my daughter, I watched on the news that a group of young girls in New York suffered from a mystery Turrets-like illness.  The story disappeared from the news quite suddenly and now there are sources that suspect a link to Gardasil that was deliberately hushed.  

Flu shots are another vaccine that I refuse to take.  When given from a multi-dose package, flu shots still contain thimerosal.  Here is a quote directly from the CDC:  "Since seasonal influenza vaccine is produced in large quantities for annual immunization campaigns, some of the vaccine is produced in multi-dose vials, and contains thimerosal to safeguard against possible contamination of the vial once it is opened."

Dr. Blaylock Vaccines and Autism Part 1 of 14

I recommend watching all 14 parts of Blaylock's lecture on vaccines available on YouTube.  There are many more interviews on YouTube with Dr. Russell Blaylock as well as his own website (www.russellblaylockmd.com) with literature, published papers and books available to educate yourself regarding vaccines, cancer, Alzheimer's and hidden MSG (excitotoxins) - to name a few topics.  We would be foolish to disregard this information.

The assault of so many vaccinations given to young children has resulted in so many tragic stories.  Dr. Blaylock explains that vaccines activate the brain's immune system, causing inflammation in the brain.  If a child's immune system is not able to recover from the assault, neurological damage occurs.  The same situation can happen to the adult population and the aged.  Dr. Blaylock concluded his lecture series with antidotes for children who are suffering from vaccine injury.  At that point, time is of the essence and a conscientious physician would be wise to pay attention to the treatments needed to save a young child's life and quality of life.

The following documentary is a staggering account of parents who have suffered dearly and their children who were permanently injured or died from vaccinations.  Please take the time to view this and take time to evaluate vaccinations by doing your own research before making a decision that would devastate you and your child. You have time to make a decision.  Don't decide anything in the doctor's office!  Go home, do your research and, if you choose to vaccinate, make a phone call for the appointment. 

Vaccine Nation - FULL LENGTH

Gut Check: Choose health, not junk!

CBS This Morning featured a health spot called "Gut Check" today.  The topic of beneficial bacteria is a key point for improving overall health for people of all ages.  The standard American diet is filled with meat, dairy, sweets, fat and refined carbohydrates.  These foods slow the digestive tract, contribute to the growth of inflammatory "bad" bacteria, reduce the good neurotransmitter production which benefits mental health, makes the body very acidic, and destroys the immune system.  The story on CBS This Morning highlighted the negative effects of bad bacteria being linked to diabetes, obesity and inflammation.

For the broadcast of This Morning's spot, "Gut Check", click on this link: 

Gut Check  

How can you improve your health by getting more good bacteria in your gut?  Change your diet.  Eat high fiber foods.  The only source of fiber is through plant foods.  You can get all the good gut flora that you need by eating a large, raw, green, organic salad every day (don't put nasty processed foods or dairy on that!).  The key to health is to get to the root cause of disease.  Heath starts in the gut and it begins with what we feed our bodies.  Don't rely on going through animal based foods to get your nutrition.  Go directly to the source - where the animals get their nutrition - fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains.  I put together a fun video about home made sources of good bacteria (probiotics).    Click on my blog post about Vegetable ferments and probiotics for more viewing and links to help you get started toward reversing your disease.

There are a few more links to my blog posts that might be helpful regarding gut health:  Probiotics,  Beet Kvass,  Some bugs you need to catch.

You only get one body in your lifetime.  Quit eating the stuff that makes you sick.  I call that stuff, JUNK.  If it comes in a package and is ready to eat or drink, then it is junk.  The effects that it leaves behind is fat on our bodies, 90% of our diseases and the wrappers that go in the trash (more junk for the earth).  Choose health.

Light and Simple Cabbage Soup

Light and Simple Cabbage Soup

This delicately flavored soup is perfect for cool days or served cold on hot days.  I give the credit to a good friend who cooks by taste, like myself.  She served a cabbage soup similar to this and told me what seasonings she used.  Here is what I did to replicate her delicious soup.

1 cup lentils

3 quarts water

1/2 head cabbage cut into bit sized pieces, about 3 cups

1 large onion chopped

4 cloves garlic minced

5 large carrots chopped

3 stalks celery chopped

4-5 potatoes, any variety, cut in bite sized pieces

1-2 cups summer squash, chopped

1 tablespoon fennel seed

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

salt & pepper to taste

In a 8-10 quart soup pan, bring water to boil and add lentils, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, potatoes, summer squash, parsley, fennel seed and cinnamon.  Once the soup comes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until potatoes and lentils can be pierced with a fork (about 15 minutes).  Add chopped cabbage, salt and pepper to taste and simmer another 15 minutes or until vegetables have reached desired tenderness.  This will keep in the refrigerator for a week.  Makes about 16 cups of soup.

How to Prevent Common Diseases: MS, Cervical Cancer, Essential Tremor, Heart disease, Cavities and more!

Dr. Greger addresses the 12 most common diseases for which American's seek treatment.  He presents stunning research and powerful facts that show these diseases to be preventable and reversible.  I hope that you take time to watch the entire video.  If you are not able watch, please read through the bullet points that highlight this valuable information regarding your health.

https://nutritionfacts.org/video/more-than-an-apple-a-day-preventing-our-most-common-diseases/

More Than an Apple a Day: Preventing Our Most Common Diseases

Michael Greger, M.D. 

• Regular physical activity improves immune function, up to 5 times.
• Mushrooms and nutritional yeast increase antibody secretion by 50% and is maintained for a week after consumption.
• Those who eat a healthy, traditional, plant based diets prevent auto-immune diseases.
• M.S. is treatable with a plant based diet free of saturated animal fat.  In a study, 95% of M.S. patients were without progression of the disease 34 years after adopting the diet.
• Essential tremor is the most common neurological disease and is linked to meat consumption.
• Heart disease is a rarity among plant based populations world wide.
• Cavities are preventable through diet (plant based)
• Consumption of trans fats in any amount increases cardiac risk.  The only way to eliminate trans fat is to eat a whole food, plant based diet.
• More than 100,000 Americans are salmonella poisoned annually by eggs.
• The USDA states that eggs are not safe to eat.
• Cervical cancer, caused by sexually transmitted HPV virus, is reversible with plant based diet.  Women eating vegetarian have significantly lower infection rates.  Vegan women have significantly lower rates of all female cancers combined - including cervical cancer.
• Male fertility is significantly impacted by diet.  Increase in saturated animal fat consumption by only 5% is associated with up to 38% lower sperm count.
• 40% of men over 40 have E.D. which places them at more than 50 times the risk of a cardiac event because E.D. is one manifestation of artery disease and a predictor of heart disease.  Young men should be concerned about their cholesterol levels.
• Cellulite is reduced by eating a plant based diet.
• 60 million Americans suffer from constipation.  Not vegans.
• Cancer kills over 500,000 Americans a year, which is equivalent to 5 jumbo jets crashing every day for a year.  However, a tumor cannot get bigger than the ball at the tip of a pen without a blood supply.  Cancer cells are commonly present in every healthy adult.  Tumors release VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in order to stimulate vascular growth and get a blood supply.  Many of the phytochemicals in veggies can block the VEGF of tumors and prevent cancer growth.
• Cancer is methionine dependent whereas healthy cells do not require methionine.  This is sourced in food.  The highest methionine content can be found in chicken and fish.  Milk, red meat and eggs are also sources of methionine, but plant based foods are the foods that contain the lowest source of methionine.
• A vegan diet has been proven to reduce prostate tumor growth whereas eggs and poultry can double or potentially quadruple the risk of cancer progression.  However, a single serving a day of any cruciferous vegetable (broccoli, kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, etc.) can cut the risk of cancer progression in half. 
• A similar result was found for breast cancer patients.  A low-fat, high fiber, plant based diet with daily physical activity can quadruple survival rate in women with breast cancer.
• In a study regarding esophageal cancer, patients consumed the equivalent of a pound of strawberries daily (in a powdered form) and the progression of the disease was reversed in 80% of the patients.  Of the patients studied, 52.7% of them were completely cured and walked away disease free - just from consuming the powdered strawberry treatment.  Similar results were found in oral cancer patients.
• Urinary tract infections have been traced to a direct link with chicken feces.  This is an animal to human disease, with or without consumption of the chicken meat.  Contamination takes place while handling and/or eating chicken regardless of care or sanitation in handling.  The pathogens colonize the intestinal tract for up to 10 days after contact or consumption.  These pathogens then travel from the intestinal tract to the urinary tract and cause bladder infection.

Are you grounded?

The earth is a huge force of energy.  The fields of science and medicine are starting to recognize that this great force, created by God, has many benefits and therapies for our health.  Since listening to this audio interview with Dr. James Oschman, I have taken advantage of the barefooted opportunities in my yard and garden.  One great benefit for me has been reduction of inflammation in my joints after spending 30 minutes with my bare feet in contact with the earth. While I'm "grounded with earth", my garden is getting weeded.  Walking barefooted can give the same benefits of bringing the human body's stress level down, reduce inflammation, and provide an overall relaxing experience.  

We are exposed to electromagnetic fields when we live in this industrialized society where there is an outlet on every wall, appliances plugged in all day, and constant use of electronics.  Individuals can go to the extent of grounding their bed with a grounding sheet so that they get a better night's rest by reducing their inflammation, stress and pain level.

Inflammation is the body's way of dealing with something that is wrong.  Cancer, chronic metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, Alzheimer's and injuries all cause inflammatory response by the immune system.  The five hallmarks of inflammation are: pain, redness, heat, loss of range of motion and swelling. There is a great big world out there that can be used every morning and evening to help your body heal on a daily basis!  Dirt feels good on your feet!  Your skin will wash off, so get out there and go for a barefooted walk or just sit down and put your feet against the earth.

You can get a good idea of the information in the first interview by listening to the first 30 minutes, but the science and theories behind it is interesting if you have time to listen to both of the following interviews.

Dr. James Oschman on Earthing

Clint Ober Discusses Earthing Research