MERRY CHRISTMAS From a Child's Perspective

This is absolutely PRECIOUS! Merry Christmas, and may the spirit of Jesus be in your thoughts and celebrations this year... (remember to pause my Blog page music player--lower right column- before watching)-

Dr. Oz and HOMEOPATHY, Part 1

Simple. Safe. Cheap. These alternative cures will soothe your aches and pains without a prescription. Dr. Oz discusses the benefits of homeopathic...

(BE SURE TO PAUSE MUSIC PLAYER BY SCROLLLING DOWN IN RIGHT COLUMN!)

Please also visit my "HOW TO" introductory guide to Homeopathy: http://bodymindsoulfood.blogspot.com/2009/02/intro-to-homeopathy.html

IN CHRIST, MS. SALUBRIOUS

Dr. Oz and HOMEOPATHY, Part 2

Simple. Safe. Cheap. These alternative cures will soothe your aches and pains without a prescription. Dr. Oz discusses the benefits of homeopathic

(BE SURE TO PAUSE MUSIC PLAYER BY SCROLLLING DOWN IN RIGHT COLUMN!)

Please also visit my "HOW TO" introductory guide to Homeopathy: http://bodymindsoulfood.blogspot.com/2009/02/intro-to-homeopathy.html

IN CHRIST, MS. SALUBRIOUS

Organic Candy.....What's the point?

Someone would SeRiOuSlY search out a "healthy" version of candy? Isn't ALL CANDY UnHeAlThY for you?

IMHO, Candy doesn't HAVE to be "unhealthy"...it could just be "not healthy"! YES, there is a difference. Let me explain....

When you look at the ingredients on a 'typical' package of candy you might see as an ingredient any of the following: hydrogenated oil, artificial dyes/coloring, artificial flavoring, artificial sweetener, preservatives.

All of these ingredients can be considered 'unhealthy' or ANTI-NUTRIENTS (substances that, when consumed increase the body's need for more nutrients) These substances take so much extra energy for the digestive tract to process and eliminate, that the body is left with more nutrients burned up than are taken in. They also increase the appetite because the body is not getting the nutrients it needs. My advice is to steer clear of most anti nutrients if you want to maintain optimum health. Some commonly considered ANTI-NUTRIENTS : hydrogenated oils, white flour products, low-fat milk products (skim and 2%), processed meats (hot dogs, lunch meat), pastries, or anything that contains added sugar, fast food anything, chemical anything in foods.

• HYDROGENATED OILS "are naturally healthy oils such as palm, kernel, soybean, corn oil or coconut oil and they heat it anywhere from 500-1,000 degrees under several atmospheres of pressure. They then inject a catalyst into the oil for several hours (nickel, platinum or even aluminum). The molecules in this new product are now closer to...plastic than to oil. In fact, hydrogenated oil is only one molecule away from being plastic. When you eat anything containing this material, just as the oil is now thicker...so too does your blood become thicker...right along with it. If un-hydrogenated oils are put into foods they would go bad very fast. This would increase the cost to the manufacturer. In fact the faster a food goes bad, the healthier they usually are. That's because the enzymatic activity which causes the foods to rot at room temperature also means that the enzymatic activity within your own body will be greater as well. Food is basically meant to digest itself so eating foods high in natural enzymes such as fresh vegetables, fruits and other raw foods means less stress on your own digestive system." Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/024694_food_hydrogenated_oils_health.html

• ARTIFICIAL DYES are used in candy because they are CHEAP, plain and simple. Cheap isn't necessarily bad....until you examine closely the side effects of artificial dyes in children. Colorings in candy and foods used to be made out from natural resources: cherries-RED, blueberries-BLUE, tumeric-YELLOW and so on. "By the time the early 1900's hit, there were more than 80 types of dyes, none of them having been tested for short/long term affects. The dyes created were, and still are, derived from PETROLEUM ANILINE, and were first named coal-tar colors because the starting product was taken from bituminous coal. Laws were eventually made to attempt to control the extent and identify the colors, but nevertheless, very little research done on the safety of putting them in the human body." (http://www.fennogold.org/)

Check out my BLOG posting on chemical colorings and side effects.

• ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS: SPLENDA is a chlorinated sugar that is about 600 times as sweet as sugar. http://www.truthaboutsplenda.com/ (taken from my BLOG posting) "When the temperature of ASPARTAME exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME coverts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. (Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants). The methanol toxicity mimics multiple sclerosis. ASPARTAME changes the brain's chemistry (by) changing the dopamine level in the brain. Dr. Russell Blaylock, neurosurgeon, said, 'The ingredients stimulates the neurons of the brain to death, causing brain damage of varying degrees.'" http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/aspartame.html

Candy containing naturally-based sugar and natural food coloring are not healthy by any means, but at least they are not as "unhealthy" as candy containing the "anti-nutrients" listed above! If there are occasionally times when you will want to celebrate something, and you don't want your child to take a hit on their immune system, I have found a couple of sites that we will occasionally be visiting for rare holiday treats. They use natural, food-derived colorings & flavors. The sugar sources in these treats/candies are not as processed as most candy (the more naturally-derived the ingredient; the easier it is on the immune system & digestive system!), contain no chemical dyes or preservatives and are made with natural flavorings. My daughters have chemical and processed food allergies, so I was absolutely ecstatic to find less "unhealthy" candy/treats!

This Christmas season we'll enjoy a healthy (quick mix) chocolate pudding made from REAL cocoa and natural sweeteners, this summer my daughters will enjoy roasting fruit juice based marshmallows over a fire, and we'll be bringing organic jello made from cherry juice and organic gelatin to potlucks through the year instead of just fresh fruit. (Organic Gelatin consists of up to 84% high-quality protein and is great for lubricating joints from the inside!) The natural candy store link actually has a candy breakdown list for children on special diets (no-soy, non-dairy, gluten-free, vegan, organic, or Feingold) more on Feingold for children with special needs: http://www.fennogold.org/

NATURAL CANDY/TREAT WEBSITES:

http://www.gobiofood.com/store.php?osCsid=7947f6e03189c839f17656dd40b7a417

http://www.naturalcandystore.com/category/organic-candy

Thanks for reading!

In Christ, Ms. Salubrious

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

Pumpkin Pudding (Variation) Dessert Sauce

2-3 cups of pureed pumpkin,
1/3 cup organic half & half
1/4-1/3 cup REAL maple syrup
a pinch-1/4 tsp Fresh ground Nutmeg
MIX TO TASTE! Warm on stove to set ingredients and serve either: cold w/whipped cream
or warm w/sprinkles of nutmeg on top

****ADD homemade granola for a pumpkin pie-ish treat at Thanksgiving!****

A NEW MOVEMENT

PLEASE PAUSE MUSIC PLAYER TO LISTEN, scroll down, right column. Thank You!

A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.

The Woman's Herb: RED RASPBERRY (and LEAVES!)

Red Raspberries are well-known for their sweetness--just pop one in your mouth to enjoy a mouth savoring experience! Not only are they delicious though--they are equally as healthy. The vivid fruit is rich in antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals in the body, preventing cell membranes damage. Raspberries are a valuable source of quercetin, an antioxidant that halts the release of histamines thus, minimizing allergic reactions. Being one of the FEW fruits that have low Glycemic index (3.8 g natural sugar per cup), the sweet fruit has virtually no effect on blood sugar levels, making it a sweet snack with minimal side-effects on those with high concentrations of yeast or pancreatic weaknesses. Benefits don't stop there though--many people overlook one of the most beneficial parts of the plant. The leaves!

"Some herbs seem to have a specific attraction to specific organs, in this case, raspberry leaves have an affinity for the female reproductive system, stimulating, toning and regulating the female organs more effectively than any other known herb. The tea is considered the supreme tonic for women to consume during their nine months of pregnancy to tone the uterus, nourish themselves and the growing baby, prevent miscarriage, and facilitate birth and placental delivery. English herbalist Henry Box praised red raspberry as the best gift that God ever gave to women. He said, "If the pains of childbirth are premature, it will make all quiet. If the mother is weak, it will abundantly strengthen her, cleanse her and enrich her milk." The first recorded use of Red Raspberry was in the 1500’s. Red raspberry leaf tea (Rubus ideas) has been used for centuries in Europe, China, and both North and South America. This popular tea has earned the reputation of "herb-supreme" among pregnant women. According to folklore it can relieve almost any discomfort of pregnancy from morning sickness to leg cramps." (BACK TO HERBS E-FLASH on Raspberry)

The leaves of a raspberry plant are probably one of the most beneficial plants for the human female body. Ranging in health benefits for women from childhood to pregnancy to menopause; the leaves have a multitude of healing properties. The leaves contain high concentrations of Vitamin C, E, A and B complex, all vitally important for the various stages a woman goes through in life, therefore helping those with most vitamin deficiencies. Since beauty to most woman is important, they will find impressive that raspberry leaf is an effective tonic on irritated skin--tightening the skin membranes effectively reducing secretions, inflammation and irritation, leading to tissue firmness. Doing the same thing on the inside of the body, raspberry leaf will curb diarrhea, intestinal and stomach upsets, along with nausea and flu symptoms. Raspberry Leaves contain the nutrient fragrine, an alkaloid which helps tone the muscles of the pelvic region so that the process of menstruation and pregnancy/delivery is easier, faster and less painful. "Red raspberry leaf tea does not induce labor directly. Instead, it strengthens the muscles of the pelvic and uterus, so that they can contract more efficiently during labor which is why there is widespread use of red raspberry leaf tea to induce labor" (BUZZLE.COM: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-benefits.html)

Here is a list of traditional uses of Red Raspberry:

• PMS symptoms
• Menstrual pain
• Regulate irregular menstruation cycles
• Ease the symptoms of morning sickness
• Soothe and prevent bleeding gums, which many pregnant women often experience
• Relax the smooth muscles of the uterus when it is contracting
• Assist with the birth of the baby and the placenta
• Calm cramping of the uterus
• provide a rich source of iron, calcium, manganese, and magnesium

Traditional uses of Red Raspberry Leaves:

• A valuable source of vitamins B1, B3, and E, which are valuable in pregnancy to help eliminate magnesium deficiency symptoms, common during pregnancy
• Aid fertility
• Promote a plentiful supply of breast milk
• Help stop excess bleeding after birth
• Treat diarrhea
• Regulate irregular menstrual cycle and to decrease heavy periods
• Relieve sore throats
• Reduce fever

I personally have found Raspberry to be a most important asset to our family, beings that I have gone through 4 pregnancies, with 3 of them being girls. It is something I take in addition to my weekly vitamins by either popping in a couple of herb capsules, or making it as my choice flavor of tea for the day. In fact, it is the ONLY TEA I have so far found that my daughters do not insist me add raw honey to. After first hand experiencing the healing properties that Red Raspberry Leaf has to offer--it would be the ONE HERB I would use to prepare my body for pregnancy, and use it to recouperate with until fully healed. (most studies say your body takes 18 months to fully recover all nutrients lost to the baby during a pregnancy; assuming you take good qualitiy vitamins and eat a diet full of high quality protein and raw dairy, vegetables, nuts and fruit)

In Christ, Ms. Salubrious

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

SOURCES:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_raspberry_leaf
• http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080105190141AA62xdl
• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-benefits.html
• BACK TO HERBS E-FLASH EMAIL