Sugar, Cancer, Obesity...

Does it seem to you that too many people you love are facing cancer?!? It does to me.

I grew up eating dessert on a regular basis and I didn't see any problem with it. No one in our family is overweight and they definitely seem to work off everything they consume. I equated sweets with fun treats and rewards and thought that since we were getting fat, they weren't really having any effect on us (me!). When I started to learn about the connection between sugar consumption and disease... it startled me. And yet, it made sense.

I still like sweets- evident by my birthday gifts yesterday: homemade truffles and gift wrapped chocolate bars. Yet, I'm more mindful to cut down sugar (especially processed sugar) in other areas where I can. One simple way to do this is to use 1/2 the amount that a recipe calls for; we've never missed it! Another idea is to switch from white sugar to unrefined cane sugar, coconut sugar, or sucanat.

Here is the latest article I read from Dr. Mercola; a great resource on health topics. This little paragraph was my favorite and sums it all up nicely. (There is lots more to read there if you are interested.)


From Dr. Mercola: "The main problem with sugar, and processed fructose in particular, is the fact that your liver has a very limited capacity to metabolize it. According to Dr. Robert Lustig, you can safely use about six teaspoons of added sugar per day unless you are vigorously exercising. But the average American consumes 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day.
 
All that excess sugar is metabolized into body fat, and leads to all of the chronic metabolic diseases we struggle with, including cancer.
 
Four grams of sugar is equivalent to about one teaspoon, and I strongly recommend limiting your daily fructose intake to 25 grams or less from all sources, including natural ones like fruit. That equates to just over six teaspoons of sugar a day"

My Personally Disturbing Vaccine Experience

I apologize in advance that this will not be a thorough overview of vaccinations, nor will it fully explain what our family thinks about vaccines and what we are choosing to give and not give our children. I'm just too tired and the topic is too exhaustive (and exhausting?!).

Please let me briefly state that The Lawyer and I have changed our minds about vaccines in the past twelve years and that we have sometimes been slow to put that into practice. We still have questions but have found some great books and blogs to be helpful.

In general, our policy now is not to vaccinate our children at all until they are at least one year old. This has been a huge point of contention with pediatricians and is the main reason why, after living here for two years, we have visited at least 5 pediatricians, searching for someone with whom we felt we could have a knowledgable conversation and who would really be an allie with us for our children.

When I recently took M for his 3 year well check he hadn't had any vaccines at all. The doctor and I discussed the vaccines that are "recommended" that he have by this time, and the doctor gave me the top 3 vaccines he felt were most important for M to have. After talking this through for a few minutes, I consented to two vaccines.

That evening, I was out getting groceries when The Lawyer texted me that M was throwing up. It seemed so odd to me, catching me completely off guard. He hadn't seemed sick at all to me that day. After the vaccination we had played at the park, come home for lunch, he had rested for several hours (he took an unusually long nap that day), and I hadn't noticed abnormal behavior that afternoon.

When I got home, I found out that M had been sick again and was now running a fever. This continued into the next morning, when I called the doctor to inform him that I was certain this was a reaction to the DTaP vaccine. None of our other children were sick at all and M was clearly not himself.

I felt a wave of panic passing over me as I recalled SO MANY things that I have read about vaccine-induced injuries and death. The thought that I had willingly put this sickness into my precious child grieved me. I know too much. And yet I thought we were healthy and strong and that we would be the ones who wouldn't be affected.

Our good doctor called us in so that he could check on M (even though the nurse insisted this couldn't possibly be connected to the vaccine received the prior day). He acknowledged that clearly, this was a(n unusual) reaction to the DTaP. The CDC handout given to us the day before listed vomiting as one of the "mild problems (common)" in about 1 child in 50. M's fever was listed under "moderate problems (uncommon)" as effecting about 1 child out of 16, 000). The "severe problems (very rare)" were "serious allergic reaction" and "several other severe problems. . . including long-term seizures, coma, permanent brain damage."

It's the last line that angers me: "These are so rare it is hard to tell if they are caused by the vaccine."

M had a COMMON reaction and yet the doctor's office seemed surprised and even denied that his lethargy, fever, and vomiting were related to his vaccine. Am I to think that they would more readily admit that his vaccine could cause a coma and seizures?! Somehow, they disassociate vaccines from their (known) side effects and risks.

After watching M's body struggle for several days, I am resolved not to give him another DTaP. The doctor agrees. (Though I think the doctor has to list this as an allergic reaction in order to exempt M from future DTaP shots- for things like college.) I am even more hesitant than before to give ANY vaccinations. Perhaps this was just the warning sign I needed.

For more information, here is a great BLOG (which I LOVED because one pediatrician we visited pushed aggressively for me to have our whole family immunized for LOTS of things in order to create a bubble around G (the baby). He used the herd mentality thinking and tried to strong-arm me into vaccines I was firmly against. Here is a great video- a bit more of the political side to all this.

I Love to Learn!

Even though it's not such a big part of my daily life, I really do love to learn. I'm especially grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the JuicePlus+ Conference two weeks ago in Long Beach, CA. (It also was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with my sister and nieces!)

I've attended about 10 of these conferences over the past 7 years. It requires a lot of preparation and sacrifice, time and money. . . but The Lawyer and I believe that the investment is worth it. This was the third time I've attended a JP+ conference with a new baby, and believe it or not, I'm having a hard time distinguishing the conferences and the babies- they are all blurring together in my mind!

Usually, I take copious notes- pages and pages of them. This time, I had a beautiful conference booklet provided by nsa. . . that remained blank. During most of the sessions I stood in the back of the room with G in the Ergo. NSA provides a wonderful room for families and so I also spent time in the bean bags there, nursing G while watching the conference on a live feed. Oh, the things we do!

John Blair is one of my favorite corporate speakers, for many, many reasons. He is a brilliant man and has been with JuicePlus+ for a looooong time. The Lawyer and I have had some good conversations with him that lead us to trust him and also enjoy his fellowship. Here are a few things that he said on the opening night of the JuicePlus+ Conference. (Not because I wrote anything down, but only because Wendy Campbell made a message with her notes and I recognize these points that also struck me that night!) I'm not trying to push JuicePlus+ on anyone, but I get excited about learning these things.

56% of the calories consumed by Americans today are from sources that were non-existant in the past. (Is that scary or what!?)

Only 4.5% of the dollars spent on food are spent on fruits and vegetables. 17% are spent on refined grains and 14% on sweets!

Finally, people are getting the idea that whole food is the way to go (vs vitamins). JuicePlus+ is the pioneer in this field, and is the BEST! Annual growth of whole food supplements is up by 12% while vitamin growth is at 6% level. Most "whole food supplements" out there are supplements and do not have a nutrition label (FOOD label) like JuicePlus+ has.

JuicePlus+ has never had a product liability claim- ever. (read= safety) All of our products are non-GMO. The glycemic index of our Complete shakes is the same as broccoli.

One of our recent studies shows a 20% improvement in gum health in people who were receiving great treatment already. The researchers were so impressed that they are now doing a study on wound healing with wisdom teeth extraction.

Smokers could actually breathe better on JuicePlus+ (one of the newest studies). They felt the difference that the science proved was taking place.


And, John Blair said this about JuicePlus+: it"provides significant impact in an easy and affordable format."

Delicious Soaked Pumpkin Muffins

It's the time of year when pumpkin sounds really good. I've been looking for a recipe for soaked pumpkin muffins and found this treasure. Here are the baker's notes and her recipe, with my adaptions. The Lawyer and the kids all raved over these- which is saying a lot because I do tend to make a lot of muffins.

From Butter Belle: "Are you new to eating traditional?  Wonder why I am soaking the batter for these muffins? Whole grains need to be fermented by the way of sour soaking, sourdough, or sprouting in order to improve digestion, and increase nutrient absorption.  All grains contain anti-nutrients, and something called phytic acid.  Phytic acid (or phytates) act as mineral blockers.  Traditional people all over the world knew the importance of properly preparing their grains prior to ingesting them."

In Nourishing Traditions, Sally Fallon states:

All grains contain phytic acid (an organic acid in which phosphorus is bound) in the outer layer or bran.  Untreated phytic acid can combine with calcium, magnesium, coper, iron and especially zinc in the intestinal tract and block their absorption.  This is why a diet high in unfermented whole grains may lead to serious mineral deficiencies and bone loss…  Soaking allows enzymes, lactobacilli and other helpful organisms to break down and neutralize phytic acid…  Soaking in warm water also neutralizes enzyme inhibitors, present in all seeds, and encourages the production of numerous beneficial enzymes.  The action of these enzymes also increases the amounts of many vitamins, especially B vitamins…  During the process of soaking and fermenting, gluten and other difficult-to-digest proteins are partially broken down into simpler components that are more readily available for absorption.

Remember, you will need to plan ahead when making these soaked, and nutritious muffins.  If you want to enjoy them for breakfast, start the batter soaking the day or night before.

Soaked Pumpkin Muffins:

• 2 cups of whole grain flour, preferably freshly ground (I used whole wheat)
• 3/4 cup sour dairy, such as buttermilk, yogurt, kefir, or clabber (could also use water + 2 TBS lemon juice, whey, or apple cider vinegar). I used kefir.
• 1/2 cup melted butter or coconut oil
• 1 cup pureed pumpkin, squash, sweet potato, carrot, mashed banana or applesauce
• 2/3 cup sucanat or granulated palm sugar
• 2 eggs, pastured or free-range organic
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp cloves (optional)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• Optional add-ins:  ground flax seeds, 1/2 cup raisons, dried cranberries, chopped dates, chocolate chips or crispy nuts (we used cranberries and walnuts and thought it was delicious!)

1. In a glass bowl, combine the flour, dairy, and melted butter together.  Cover with a clean dish towel or plate and allow this mixture to soak at least 8 hours, or even better, 24.  The longer it soaks, the greater the reduction of phytic acid. It is also important that you place this mixture somewhere warm. A good place is your oven with just the light on, or a dehydrator set on low.  A cold counter top in the winter is not going to reduce any phytates.  You need warmth.

2. Once the batter has had a good soak, add in the rest of the ingredients.  You will have to give it all a very good stir.  Forget what you have learned about making muffins in the past. It’s not going to work here… but it doesn’t matter, they’re still going to turn out fine!  I used my Kitchen Aid mixer to get everything incorporated really well! Fold in your add-ins at the end, if using.

3. Pour into greased muffin tins (preferably not aluminum or non-stick — stoneware is good). Bake in a 325 degree oven for about 30-35 minutes.  When they are done, a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean and your house should smell wonderful.  This recipe makes me about 16 regular sized muffins. We doubled the recipe and it worked beautifully.

In Case You Love Kashi

You'll want to read this article I just read on Dr. Mercola's website.

I'll admit to being a "green" consumer. I like to make granola. I buy "healthier" products or make my own. I look for companies that are being environmentally and fiscally responsible and I'm especially irked by the confusion that results from misrepresentation on labels. When I'm trying to make good choices for our family it frustrates me that I can't actually know what is in something I (may) want to buy at the grocery store. I simply do not trust the companies that provide the grocery store food.

Kashi is a case in point. It looks like a health-conscious, eco-conscious company. But it's owned by Kellogg. I want to be able to choose a cereal off the shelf every now and again (and when it's on sale!) and Kashi looks like a good choice (from the aisle, where I'm doing a song and dance to keep a 2 year old in the cart and trying not to misplace my other four children).

Breakfast cereal and puffed grains are another post I'll save for later. This is not typical food in our house. You can find out why if you are curious.

SO... Kashi uses GMO soy in their cereal. And not just the soy is GMO. And if you looks at their shakes you'll be appalled. These ingredients are not "natural" and wholesome and healthy as we consumers are led to believe.

If we want natural, we'll have to know where our food is coming from.

Even then, there are some drawbacks. Kohlrabi is in season here in VA and today at Kroger I asked the produce manager if they would have kohlrabi in soon. He explained to me that he could get red or green kohlrabi on his next order from CA. . . and then it would be in the store by a week or so after he ordered it. Okay; it's nice that he'll order what I want- that's quite a luxury. STILL! I can go to the market on Saturday and hopefully buy kohlrabi that was just taken from the ground that morning. It seems so very wasteful to me to spend the money to ship kohlrabi from CA to Kroger in Midlothian when we have it here already.

Sheesh. These things are troubling!

Homemade Orange Toothpaste

Children's toothpaste is ridiculously expensive. And flavored with crazy artificial things and colored with dyes. And they usually contain fluoride. And (our) children have been known to blow through a tube of toothpaste in less time than it takes to need to replace the toilet paper and eons before we run out of hand soap. For all of these reasons, I knew I needed to make our own toothpaste. (Yes, I did this nearly two years ago, but it had been quite some time and I was ready to try this again.)

I've tried this before and people weren't so happy with it. The storage container was a problem, but I solved that with a fun little metal container. (Though now I realize the lid is much too difficult to get off!) The offsetting taste for the children before was strong peppermint (which I enjoyed). This time I switched to orange essential oil and most of them think it is very fun.

So... inexpensive toothpaste that I feel good about letting my children use- even M (21 months). I like that I was able to achieve a creamy consistency this time and it tastes good! I'll try a new (minty) version for myself next.


Homemade Orange Toothpaste:
3 Tbl. coconut oil (softened)
3 Tbl. baking soda
5-10 drops liquid stevia
5-10 drops orange essential oil (the kids liked about 10, which also gave a nice orange color)

Mix all ingredients together until they are a smooth consistency; this should look creamy like "store" toothepaste. Adjust sweetness with stevia and flavor with orange oil. Apply to a toothbrush (wet with warm water helps soften coconut oil if it is chilly where you live, too.) Enjoy your clean teeth!

Real Food Night

This week I hosted an exciting "Real Food" night. We used the JuicePlus+ Live Life to the Plus booklets and when we came to "consuming more whole foods and less processed foods," a local farmer shared a few minutes on their family's vision for providing green-fed meat and dairy products to the local community (with an emphasis on green!). We then discussed the importance of consuming lots of fruits and vegetables in our diet and watched a JuicePlus+ dvd.

The evening ended with questions and answers and great feedback. (I think there were many of us who were wishing we could move our family to a farm!) Everyone tried delicious JuicePlus+ Complete shakes (cherry vanilla or chocolate with peanut butter and banana) as well as red, green, and purple chewies. Thanks to Joy, they also left with raw milk. It was a wonderful evening and I was excited again about connecting farms with families and encouraging and empowering others to eat local (even as local as their own Tower Garden!).

On Calcium

When I posted about our experience at the doctor's office earlier this week I was in a hurry and didn't have my resources at my fingertips. I don't like to throw out my thoughts without some good support and I know that the question of calcium absorption may bother some people. (I am a Midwesterner, remember; I grew up in dairy, corn, and beef country. It may be difficult to believe that our children typically do not drink milk.) We try to put our money and effort into eating as many plants as we can.

Here is an excerpt from Wendy Campbell (a nurse I enjoy learning from):

"Even calcium in milk results in only about a 30% absorption into the bloodstream and it’s questionable as to how much of that actually makes it into the bone.  The controversies over other negative aspects of dairy products i.e. the hormonal, pesticide and antibiotic content as described in books like “Don’t Drink Your Milk” by Frank A. Oski, M.D. is also an issue for many.

The highest absorption rate for calcium seems to be best achieved from green leafy vegetables at 50 –100%.  This, again, is due to the synergy of action of a variety of minerals, trace elements, vitamins, enzymes, etc. working together to help “potentiate” or “enhance” the absorption.  With this potentiation of action, less is needed of one isolated nutrient when working in combination with other nutrients."  

Here is what Carol Watson (Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor) has to say:

"Doctors who study calcium now understand that the amount of calcium absorbed depends on its interaction with other dietary constituents.  In other words, the absorbability of calcium is mainly determined by the presence of food constituents. One study (taken from a research article written by Robert Theil, Ph.D., N.D.) found that whole food calcium is 8.79 times more absorbed into the blood than calcium carbonate and 2.97 times more than calcium gluconate.  Another study found that calcium in whole foods raised serum ionic calcium levels yet calcium carbonate did not raise these levels at all. When serum calcium levels drop, calcium leaves the bone—so, absorption of calcium is better for bone health. Animal products, as well as, dairy products and foods that leave an acid residue (all cooked, “dead” food) actually “leach” calcium from the bones, to neutralize this acid!  So, is milk really a good choice for calcium?  NO, the pasteurization process destroys a critical enzyme needed to assimilate calcium!!"

To the Very Nice Doctor I Saw Today

To the Very Nice Doctor I Saw Today:
Thank you for your concern and interest in my children. I appreciated that you looked my children in the eyes and talked to them during their well-check appointment. I was glad that you weren't as distracted as I was by an 18 month old driving a truck around the floor while the 8 year old regaled you with the stories behind his various mishaps, stitches, etc. You were polite, thorough, and personable. I liked that a lot. As a bonus, we thought your office was well stocked with toys and books and the decor was the best I've ever seen in a medical practice.

You may not have noticed, however, that I was quite nervous, even sweating, as we talked about a few things. I have strong convictions about medicine and food; I'm probably not the kind of mom you want in your office. Yet, I didn't say much to you. You see, I don't like conflict and I really don't like to go against authority figures (you!). On a few issues I did raise my questions but you didn't seem to believe that I could know what I was talking about. I was tense. And we didn't agree. And I'm not sure I can come back into your office knowing how I will feel during each visit when we disagree.

You want my children to drink more cow's milk. They don't drink any right now. You are concerned for their calcium. I'm not; they eat lots of vegetables and I think calcium is more bioavailable in whole food than it is in dairy products. You think they should use calcium supplements. I will not use calcium supplements because they have been shown to actually leach calcium from the very bones they are supposed to be protecting.

You think we should fully vaccinate all of our children and ought to come in as soon as possible to push them through the process. I expressed that we did not want to proceed with the full prescribed battery of vaccines. There were a few vaccines I mentioned not wanting to give to our children. You told me that they were safe vaccines and that I ought to hedge my bets by protecting my children as soon as possible.

We have never given our family flu shots. You think we should. I expressed that the flu shot may not even protect against the flu strain that will be passed around this year. While you did agree that this may be true, you think it is still much safer to get the vaccine than to have the flu ("for a week"). If I had come to the appointment better prepared, I may have shared with you that  "the truth is that flu shots, even in the best case the industry can come up with, really only prevent the flu in 1.5 out of 100 adults." You said it was still better to get the vaccine. I said that we are putting our money and effort into nutrition and prevention.

Today I didn't come to your office armed for combat. I'm just a mom, after all, trying to do what I think is best for our family, seeking wisdom from the Lord and following my husband's leadership.  In so many ways I was pleased with our experience today. I'm not sure, however, that I can feel good about continuing a partnership with you when our values and decisions are easily dismissed and I am hesitant to divulge too much information about what we are/are not doing. In truth, I'm a little scared of you (even though you were very nice). What will you do when I fail to follow your advise?  What will I do when I need a pediatrician and can't find anyone closer/available? Maybe I'll pluck up my courage and gather up my children and compile my resources and visit you again.

Sunday Simplicity

This Sunday, let's be drawn to simplicity. May the really important things be first in our minds.

(Okay, so maybe bottled water doesn't make the top of the "really important things" list... but I do think that WATER is a really important thing- as in, we need it to live.) Can you simplify your life by taking a closer look at bottled waters and choosing a simpler, healthier choice for your family and for the world?

There is an element of stewardship here. If we spend less on water (without sacrificing safety), won't we have resources to help those who are literally without water? That inspires me.

Principled ProActivity

I chose two words this year to define what I'm trying to achieve: principled and joy.

In search of JOY, I read Ann's book 1000 Gifts and started listing my daily gratitudes (again!). I sought Scripture on joy to meditate on. The children and I are intentionally spending time outside looking for glory in creation, glory that draws us in thankfulness to the Creator. When I recognize Him in all things, I have joy for all things.

The word "principled" stood out to me when I read Stephen Covey's book First Things First. There are principles in place in life that I just can't override (if I don't sleep I will not be able to think clearly, et. cetera); therefore, I can choose my actions based on principles and know what the outcome will be. If I am generous, I will be blessed. If I take care of my health now I will enjoy better health in the future. This basic thought grounded me and sobered me- I have limited time and energy and wishing that things would be different won't change them and doing something that feels good now "because I want to" will have consequences somewhere down the road. This thought has also brought me great freedom and satisfaction- because I have the power to choose! And it feels so good to choose right things. Somewhere along the road I became more indulgent and less disciplined. "Disciplined" sounds hard to me right now but "principled" inspires me. Once I read, "Do something necessary but unpleasant every day" (but I can't find who said it; sorry!). I'm embracing this.

The choices we make now largely determine the choices we will have later. This is often seen with our health. Covey says:


"Most of us realize that a good percentage of the health problems we have are lifestyle-related. Without an extreme "wake-up call," such as a heart attack, many of us live in a rescue fantasy. We live the way we want to live- little or no exercise, poor nutrition, burning the candle at both ends- and when we have a problem we expect the medical profession to pick up the pieces. While we may be able to diminish the pain with prescriptions and Band-Aids, if we're really going to make a difference, we need to go to the underlying root cause of the pain. We need to attend to prevention in a profound way." Stephen R. Covey on "The Urgency Addiction" in First Things First

I love this; it is what I aim to inspire other families to do: choose to attend to prevention. In that spirit, here is a great video of Bear Grylls. If you like this, check out his other clips (I especially like the one on children's health!)

Blueberry Deception

This interesting video was fodder for discussion with the big boys this afternoon.

Food manufacturers are using blueberry crunchlets and blueberry bits in place of actual blueberries. Yet their products are marketed as containing blueberries- from the large print on the front of the package to the photos of plump blueberries on the box.

This is why I started reading labels! I decided that I was the one responsible for what my family ate (and convicted that their health was largely determined by what I was feeding them!) and I realized that there was competition for my dollar in the food market.

Is it a better use of my money to buy REAL, fresh, locally grown blueberries- even if I only get a few- than a box of blueberry muffins that may seem like a deal but has no actual berries inside and instead has artificial colors, numbers, sugars, hydrogenated fats, and flavors that are detrimental to our health?

This (blueberry deception) scares me a little because I've noticed that 70% of Americans are overweight or obese and our rates of disease are climbing. Blueberrries are just one ingredient, one fruit. The grocery store is well stocked with packaged foods and the buyer should beware.

Healthier Cookware

We have been looking to replace our cookware with something healthier and greener. At just the right time, we were given a gift and can now purchase the coveted cookware (which we found on Dr. Mercola's website - and I'm extra excited because it is 50% off right now! (I eyed the tea set longingly, too...) The manufacturer also has a good website.

If you have wondered about the safety of your pots and pans, you may want to watch Dr. Mercola's video. I've been uneasy with our aluminum baking sheets and the nonstick flakes that sometimes came off of the griddle. Yikes! I know enough to know this isn't safe for our family. Thankfully, I have a large assortment of various stones for baking. I use these constantly. Yet, to have cookware that can go from the fridge to the oven or from the stovetop to the oven to the dishwasher- that's exciting to me! It seems so simple and easy and so good for us.

This cookware special (of Dr. Mercola's) is only being offered until April 13th and I wanted you to have the opportunity to improve your family's health, too!

Kicked the Ear Infection

The great news is that we have been ear infection FREE for about a month now. It was my prayer that we could come up with some solutions for M (10 mo now) and avoid putting tubes in, if possible. Even though tubes are very normal here in the U.S. , the rest of the world isn't jumping to the conclusion that tubes are best/necessary. Therefore, we opted to try many different things before seeing the ENT. Some of these I think were really helpful:

1) Waiora. Drops that I put in his ears each time he nursed. I also gave a few orally each day. Even though I can't explain exactly WHY this helps, I really do think it was the big gun for us.
2) Elderberry. In the form of JuicePlus+ Vineyard blend. This helps reduce tissue inflammation.
3) Probiotics. These friendly gut bacteria lead to greater health overall and an improved immune system to fight infection. I also feel this is crucial if antibiotics are being used, as they will replace the good bacteria being killed off by the "medicine."
4) Bromelain. Pineapple is in the orchard JuicePlus+. Again, it reduces inflammation and aids healing. I increased M's JuicePlus+.
5) Thieves oil to fight infection and other oils used to soothe.

February and Immunity

It's February now, and we have deceivingly warm days followed by chilling damp. Just when everyone seems healthy, I note a different tone in our daughter's voice, the baby's nose starts to run, and the three year old cries out uncomfortably in the night.

Cold temperatures alone are not what make people sick this time of year. Our immune systems are also impaired by being sedentary, spending time indoors with other sick people, and having limited exposure to sunlight. Researchers know that the majority of immune function (near 80%) takes place in the gut. This is why what we eat and drink is so critically important. There is a recent study that is garnering worldwide media attention on how Juice Plus+® reduces severe cold symptoms. We take extra JuicePlus+ when we feel illness approaching. I also add powerful spices such as garlic, turmeric, and cumin to our foods. We diffuse Thieves throughout the house and use R.C. while we sleep. I keep Colloidal Silver handy, as well.

Still, there may be weary days ahead as we move through the bleak mid-winter and into the blustery spring. . .

Why My Kids Don't Know a Nugget

We don't eat chicken nuggets- or let me at least say it has been years since we've made nuggets at home and we don't eat them out. My kids don't recognize nuggets as chicken. (Though they also call chicken and fish "steak," so don't be too hard on us.)

We simply don't eat out often. The average American eats out 4-5 times a week and yet our family eats out together about three times a year.

I find it staggering that The National Restaurant Association reports that "an average of one out of five meals consumed by Americans — 4.2 meals per week — is prepared in a commercial setting."
(Read more: http://greenanswers.com/q/73628/food-agriculture/restaurants-markets/how-often-do-americans-go-out-eat#ixzz14oiLuzKG)

Our reasons for eating at home are elementary: it costs too much for our family of seven. It seems so very wasteful to spend so much money on food that I could prepare at home for a fraction of the cost. We also know that eating together as a family is good for our children socially and provides emotional stability and a connecting place for each of us, building our family bonds. Plus, we know the quality and nutrition are lacking. When we eat out, I'm never quite sure that I know what I'm getting.

Here is proof:
Only 50 percent of a McNugget is actually chicken. The other 50 percent includes corn derivatives, sugars, leavening agents and completely synthetic ingredients. Yet, according to McDonald's, their chicken nuggets are "made with white meat, wrapped up in a crisp tempura batter."
Organic Authority helpfully transcribed the full ingredients list provided by McDonalds:

"White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary).
Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch.
Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent."

Did you know that dimethylpolysiloxane is an anti-foaming agent made of silicone? Or that tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is a chemical preservative so deadly that just five grams can kill you?



I think that is scary, and so did Federal Judge Robert Sweet. In a lawsuit against this restaurant chain back in 2003, he said:

"Chicken McNuggets, rather than being merely chicken fried in a pan, are a McFrankenstein creation of various elements not utilized by the home cook."

At the time, Time Magazine reported that Judge Sweet "questioned whether customers understood the risks of eating McDonald's chicken over regular chicken."
 
There are RISKS to eating at McDonald's! (And it is not just that franchise, but all fast food that I know of.) Here is a great article on this by Dr. Mercola. The risk is not just from the nuggets alone, though.

When I speak on wellness, I often show a cheeseburger and french fries that I purchased at McDonald's . . . five years ago. I think most people have seen those shriveled fries (on the floors of mini vans!), but it is a bit of a shock to see the bun, meat, cheese and all still intact after five years. This is intended to drive home the point: this is not live food! Our bodies need live food to live. "If it doesn't rot or sprout, throw it out!" is a great mantra when it comes to food. Real bread should mold or attract insects. Why doesn't the McDonald's bun?

Here are just a few of the ingredients in the McDonald's hamburger bun:

• calcium sulfate (aka Plaster of Paris)
• calcium carbonate (Antacid medication)
• ammonium sulfate (According to MSDS,“harmful if swallowed”)
• ammonium chloride (Causes irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea)
• calcium propionate (Preservative)
• sodium propionate (Mold inhibitor)  

No wonder the bun looks the same today. And could it possibly have any nutritional value? (I would say it is harmful and not just neutral and definitely not beneficial.)

Fast food can be so deceiving. I tell my kids, "It looks like food and smells like food and tastes like food. . . but it is NOT food!" It's hard to understand- even for me. When you are hungry and food is readily available that looks and smells good, it is hard to resist. Understanding some of these ingredients helps me, however. Fake food, and fast food in particular, has lost its appeal for me. Knowing what I know, my good sense can override my senses when it comes to choosing what I'll put in my mouth.

Notes from Dr. Brown

Went to a wonderful nutrition lecture on Friday night and then another on Saturday morning. Dr. Matt Brown presented powerful information in a fun and persuasive manner. Here are some of my notes from Saturday (Friday night I was pacing with M and didn't take notes). This lecture was "A Message of Hope," mainly about cancer and other diseases.

"It's better to pay your grocer than your doctor."

Nutrition can prevent cancer, and significantly impacts the treatment course and the outcome.

Cancer is highly variable, runs many courses, and is often not fatal. Therefore, it is not a death sentence! (The average life expectancy for a man with prostate cancer that receives NO treatment is 10 years.)

Tissue is the Issue!

"Perhaps 10% of all cancers occur in people who have inherited genes that make them vulnerable." (Robert Weinberg) Weinberg also says (paraphrasing): If we grew thinner, exercised more, avoided diets rich in red meat, ate diets rich in fruits and vegetables. . . we would PREVENT up to 70% of all cancers.

Weinberg's comments fit in with the explanation of epigenetics. You can switch good genes on and bad genes off. This is supported by the WINS study, among others.

A great book to read on an aggressive juicing therapy is A Cancer Therapy by Max Gerson. A really good documentary on the Gerson treatment is called "Dying to have Known."

Other doctors are finding great success with treating cancer with a plant-based diet and exercise. Some of these include Mark Scholz, MD and Dean Ornish.

If an oncologist says "no antioxidents," they really mean that they don't want their patient to consume antioxidents in high dose, isolated form. There is NO controversy about eating color and variety. (JuicePlus+ is color and variety because it is the actual food and not isolated, fragmented vitamins.) Dr. Brown said, "You better eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and protect every healthy cell in your body from that chemo!"

Some powerful anti-cancer foods include: green tea, turmeric, and cumin.

When you think of foods, go from GRAIN to GREEN.

And, as my brain was swimming, Dr. Brown added, "This is more complicated than you thought!"

He is right, and yet I find it so exciting that the answers are often so simple. As more and more people around me have cancer, I'm reassured that God has also given us plants that heal (not always, not for everyone, but generally. . . it is amazing.)

Flu Shots or Nots

"Which would you rather risk experience: a week in bed, drinking hot soup, or a lifetime falling asleep at the most inopportune times; in class, during dinner, at work, in your car…

Narcolepsy, a mysterious, incurable neurological condition that causes you to suddenly fall into a deep sleep, is not something you hear about very often.

Yet Sweden and Finland recently sounded the alarm because young patients suddenly developed this abnormal sleeping disorder after being vaccinated with the H1N1 swine flu vaccine.

France, Germany and Norway have also started counting cases, and the EU has launched an investigation." (from Dr. Mercola's website)


It surprises me that Walgreens and other locations advertise flu shots as if they are a completely common, acceptable part of American culture. I guess I'm just not totally on board with that thinking. To me, it is still a shot, a vaccine, an introduction of another substance (or virus) into one's body. And do we have anything more precious than these bodies we were given to use for a time? (Temporally speaking, I don't think so.) I'm not staunchly opposed to vaccines (see other blog posts), and yet they do give me pause.

Dr. Mercola's thoughts on vaccines are interesting to me. I have a friend with narcolepsy. It is a crazy thing and has definitely impacted her life in many ways. (She shouldn't drive with her four kids in the car because she could fall asleep and crash- which has happened. Her children have to know what to do if she suddenly falls down.) If narcolepsy is a "side-effect" of a vaccine, it stops me in my tracks. Really, is the flu all that bad? (It can be!)

Instead of rushing for the vaccine, we'll emphasize strengthening our immune systems. Eating wholesome, nutritious foods and bolstering our health with the whole food supplement JuicePlus+ are key in our home. I'll have my oils on hand, too, and also some natural remedies and homeopathic remedies if/when we do get ill.

Lemon Water

Next to drinking plain purified water, drinking lemon water daily is a simple, yet important thing you can do for your health. Not only do we use fresh lemons in our water, but I love to use lemon essential oil. No buying, slicing and storing lemons; the oil is in the cupboard above my water pitcher, so it is easy to add a drop or two to the pitcher when it is filled.

Some of the benefits of lemon, found at naturalhealthezine.com are:

• lemon juice cleans your mouth
• it controls excessive bile flow
• it dislodges phlegm
• it aides in the digestive process
• lemon water helps alleviate constipation
• it helps prevent vomiting
• it helps with throat issues
• cleanses the liver and kidneys
• works as a natural skin cleanser

And Jethro Kloss reported in his book Back To Eden:

“The medicinal value of the lemon is as follows: It is an antiseptic, or is an agent that prevents sepsis [the presence of pathogenic bacteria] or putrefaction [decomposition of tissue]. It is also anti-scorbutic, a term meaning a remedy which will prevent disease and assist in cleansing the system of impurities.”

Really Good Chocolate Avocado Fondue (Really!)

Chocolate Avocado Fondue

1Tablespoon butter (or coconut oil)
1/2 cup avocado puree (I used 1 avocado)
1/4 cup carrot puree (I used 2 small carrots)
1 cup powdered sugar (I used 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
   OR 1/2 cup quality dark chocolate pieces
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Melt butter in a small sauce pan over medium-low heat. Add purees. Whisk in powdered sugar. Add chocolate and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Serve warm.

For my recent Chocolate and Wellness Nights, I tried this recipe from Deceptively Delicious (Jessica Seinfeld). I had one avocado on hand, and this seemed a simple way to use it up. Plus, I could stretch my chocolate, and healthify a very delicious snack.

This was very yummy! We could have eaten the entire container in one sitting, happily dipping our strawberries, bananas, and pretzels.