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

In the Eyes of the Beholder

Mark 8:25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly

Ezekiel 47:12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."

• Half of the U.S. population ages 20 and older has poor eyesight, according to a study in the August Archives of Ophthalmology.


• It is estimated that more than 150 million people in the U.S. use corrective eyewear (Prevent Blindness America, 2002).


• Among all individuals who report "serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses," 33% live in cities, 37% live in suburbs, 28% live in non-metropolitan areas (e.g., small towns) and 1% live in farm areas (Schmeidler & Halfmann, 1998b).
  

What can one collectively presume looking at the 3 above statistics?

Perhaps that "most people lose their eyesight as they grow older, needing corrective eyewear from something that rural living has to offer"?

Am I suggesting that one move to the "country" if they have poor eyesight? Absolutely not! But I will attempt to suggest a reason as to "why" the considerably higher percentage of people are from non-rural areas. Perhaps the people on farms having good eyesight have lived on a diet mostly of freshly picked vegetables and fruit that help them to nourish their sightseeing organs. Most people know that Vitamin A (from orange vegetables) helps to "feed" the eyes, but are there others? I ran across a great article at:

http://www.treelite.com/articles/nf/natures-field---july-20-2010.html that I'll share some excerpts with you:

"The sad thing is that one simple nutritional change could save many people's vision. That change is to get more antioxidant nutrients into the diet. Antioxidants are extremely critical to eye health because the eyes are extremely prone to oxidative stress and free radical damage. In fact, oxidative stress is the underlying cause of cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration."

Many people do not make the connection between diet and nutrition (me being one of them in the past. I found I needed glasses after my mom went back to work, with my diet offering meals with considerably less vegetables, being sacrificed for a busier, but comfortable lifestyle). Others may think that vegetable flavored chips, synthetic meal replacements, and fruit flavored cereals / fruit roll-ups make an exceptional form of a daily vegetable and fruit intake. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't even try THAT hard, but completely threw any diet-to-eyesight connections out the window! YES...I wear glasses now and have for over 15 years now. I'm trying to play "catch up" for those years 'lacking' in my diet, but it's VERY hard to do! I have found by not trying CONSIDERABLY hard (other than upping my raw vegetable intake) that I have for the first time in 15 years not gotten worse when I had my eyes checked, but even improved by a degree! After I heal fully from our latest addition to the family, I plan to travel down the road of improving my eyesight naturally. Here are some more tips I'll be following from the above article link:

• Lutein and xeaxanthin, are yellowish pigments found in foods like spinach, kale, green beans, corn and egg yolks. They are also antioxidants that protect your eyes from the blue and near-ultraviolet wavelengths of light. Protecting the eyes from these wavelengths of light reduces the risk of macular degeneration.
• Carrots are high in beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. Both vitamin A and beta-carotene are very critical antioxidants for the eyes, meaning there is some truth to the popular belief that carrots are good for your eyes.
  There are other carotenoids that protect the eyes, too. For instance, lycopene, a carotenoid that contributes to the red color of tomatoes, helps protect eyes from light and oxygen damage. It also protects the prostate and blood vessels.
  The dark purple color of blue berries, huckleberries and bilberries is due to the presence of anthocyanodins. These compounds protect blood vessels in the eyes (and throughout the body) and enhance night vision.
  The bottom line is that our eyes can help to guide our nutritional choices, so we obtain the nutrients our eyes need to stay healthy. An ingenious system, don't you think?
  

Find yourself living a busy lifestyle and plan to slow down later to a life with more vegetables and fruits?

Look for a supplement offering carotenoids, which are so important for the eyes! NATURE's SUNSHINE offers a product with beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin called: CAROTENOID BLEND. NATURES SUNSHINE was the first company to encapsulate herbs, back in 1972, and have thus been known for their disease-fighting properties. You might also search for a health product containing the herbs BILBERRY and TUMERIC, which have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that protect the eyes, liver, blood vessels and other tissues from damage. NATURES SUNSHINE also offers as a product: PERFECT EYES, which contains the carotenoids lutein, xeaxanthin, beta-carotene, lycopene, along with bilberry and turmeric.

Desire to see God's pathway clearer? Use His creation as an investment in your vision by increasing your raw fruit and vegetable intake. Your eyes may thank you come 40 years from now, and you're not needing to wear those unsightly senior citizen SUNGLASS BLINDERS for extreme sunlight sensitivity!

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. ******

Antibacterial soap....Et cetera

Antibacterial soap is a better defense against infection than normal soap, right?

Unfortunately, that's false.

Three years ago, a University of Michigan team reviewed data and reported that antibacterial soap products in which TRICLOSAN is the active ingredient is no better than normal soaps at preventing infection. (triclosan is the big dog of antibacterial products)

According to a 2004 report in the journal Pesticides and You (yes, there really is a journal for everything!), triclosan is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that's used in hundreds of products. But not just soaps. The chemical also shows up in Colgate Total toothpaste, Right Guard Sport Deodorant, and Solarcaine First Aid Medicated Spray.

And here's where things take a very dark turn: Triclosan may promote antibiotic resistance, which would actually make you MORE vulnerable if exposed to infections and hospital superbugs like MRSA and C. diff.

Early this year, Representative Edward Markey (chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment) asked the FDA to update the scientific review of triclosan.

In their response, FDA officials noted that recent research raises "valid concerns" about triclosan safety. In addition to antibiotic resistance, concerns include animal studies that suggest the chemical may interfere with hormone regulation.

So the FDA has started a new review of triclosan safety. Ready for a laugh? Agency officials say they'll have their report ready in the spring of 2011. D'oh!

Want to avoid triclosan right now? Why not? It's apparently not doing anyone any good. Just Google "triclosan-free" and you'll come up with thousands of websites that carry soap and other products that leave triclosan out of the mix.

And if you're wondering just how serious the problem of antibiotic resistance really is, consider that this danger was first recognized more than 80 years ago by one of the foremost medical scientists of the 20th century. His name: Alexander Fleming.

---ABOVE ALL TAKEN FROM HSIALERT.COM (The Health Science Institute)

My thoughts:

If you look under Antibiotic Resistance in the Wikipedia, it says, "Household use of antibacterials in soaps and other products is discouraged (as not being effective at infection control)" Makes you wonder if the use of antibacterial agents in common household products is either effective or harmless?

I first became aware of the potential downsides of antibacterial soaps from Dr. Mercola (The world's number 1 free natural health Newsletter resource), here's a similar article to the one I first read: Dr. MERCOLA ANTIBACTEIAL DANGER NEWSLETTER.

So, everyone wants to keep their family and children safe from harmful bacteria that can cause illness, right? What's the SAFE alternative you ask?

NATURAL, God designed antibacterial agents which have NO NEGATIVE effects on the human body:

• VINEGAR -- as a spray on counter surfaces, toys, and bacteria-laden places. Article on vinegar's effectiveness: VINEGAR AS A BACTERIAL, MOLD, GERM KILLING PRODUCT. It's very inexpensive at the grocery store--give it a try!
• LIQUID SILVER -- Practitioners in burn wards have known for a very long time that soaking bandages in a low concentration silver solution inhibits infection in burn victims; it literally saves their skin. Silver has long been used as an anti-infection agent with bandages or other medical supplies all around the world. VIEW SILVER BAND-AID PRODUCTS. Silver is also coming out in cleaning products/cloths: NORWEX SILVER CLEANING PRODUCTS.

Here's what our family uses as a quick antibacterial handsanitizer when out and about: SILVER ANTIBACTERIAL GEL HAND GEL. A little more spendy...but saves you from taking a chance with using TRICLOSAN on your kiddos!! They also sell a liquid version for antibacterial washings and for using with eye infections: LIQUID SILVER.

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. ******

Little Djoulissa's Story

I would like to share the story of the Meyers so that you can join me in praying for them. We go to a homeschooling academy/CO-OP and the mom, Mae, is one of the parents there so we have had many good faith/family/friendship talks over the past 2 years. I consider Mae a close friend of mine, being there for me with advice, love and encouragement when she knows I need them. She has such a loving and caring heart, and has such faith and strength in her times of trial, that I sooo admire.

This year the Meyers Family was approached to adopt a beautiful 2 year old named Djoulissa from a couple that was hosting her during her stay in the U.S. for her medical visa. This precious child has been diagnosed with Moebius Syndrome (including facial paralysis), CLUB FEET, malnutritio​n, and has severe development​al delays. The Meyers knew it was their calling to have her as a part of their family.

Here's a portion of their announcement e-mail:

"We are very excited to announce that we have a new addition to the family. Djoulissa -pronounce: jew-lisa (given name-not sure if we are changing it yet) was brought to our attention on Feb. 20th. God had put our family on someone's mind who knew that Djoulissa needed a home. They contacted us and asked if we were interested in adopting her. To say we were blown away would be an understatement-especially since we were not even thinking of adopting at this time. We said that we would pray about it and see where God was leading us-it is hard to ignore when God is opening doors all around you! We really felt that God had prepared us for her and her special needs over the last couple of years and that He is calling us to adopt her."

The Meyers family brought her home at the beginning of April, and started visits with doctors to diagnosis, treat and improve Djoulissa's health condition. Here is her excerpt from Djoulissa's CARING BRIDGE SITE (<--Click for link to site):

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
"Djoulissa was admitted to the hospital today. We went in for a feeding clinic and they took one look at her and said she is going up to a room! That was not in the plan today :) Right now she has a tube through her nose to feed her. The dr. said this is going to be a long stay. When I asked what 'long' meant he said that on the short end it will be 2 weeks. Plea​se pray for her sweet little spirit and that she can put up with all this testing and that Doug and I will have the emotion and physical strength."

Friday, April 30
"They did find a bit of fluid by the heart and a vessel that they really don't want there. We will do another heart echo next week to check on things. I was a bit worried tonight with her being so lethargic and quiet. I bought her a couple of balloons (which always make her giggle) but she didn't even really look at them. I was telling a nurse about it and that she really is a fiesty girland I want to see that again. She sat up on my lap and preceded to hit the heck out the balloon. Never thought violence could bring such JOY to my heart :)"

"If I have not mentioned it before...th​is little girl is such a sweetie. She has the most beautiful eyes that smile even if her face can't. I am so very humbled and blessed to be this little girl's mother that it brings me to tears whenever I think about it. To be perfectly honest I worry. I worry about being a good mother to her, worry about providing everything she is going to need, worry about being a mother to SIX kids (I am so outnumbered​), worried about stupid stuff that satan plants in my head --Then I read in this really great book that tells me that I should NOT worry-for what good does it do? Pretty good book and it hasn't failed me yet so I am trying really hard to follow its guidance. I still am not sure what God was thinking when He chose me to be her mother, but I know that He is a GREAT Father and He can use even the likes of me. Thank-you again for all the prayers. God has His hand on all of this and I really am excited to see where He takes us! "

Please visit the site regularly for updates, prayer requests and to show support to this loving family. We are so blessed to know them, and would encourage you to be a part of their journey God has for them! Thank you for reading.

In Christ, Ms. Salubrious

Daniel Fast Verses Moses Diet

I believe that fasting can be a very powerful tool if done with pure intentions, in our private relationship with Christ. As it says in the Bible, (Matthew 6:17,18) "But when you fast...(fast)so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." There can be much bodily healing, cleansing and devotion that can come as a result of the fasting process, as proven in the Bible. It will also jump start certain bodily organs--such as the liver, stomach and intestines that regularly do cleansing, but can retain unwanted "sludge" so inconspicuously as our daily meals slither on through.

Fasting can restart our thought process dramatically. In our current society, our minds can get overpowered in feeding the dependency of the caffeine/yeast/sugar/fats that our bodies normally get on a regular basis, that we don't have the clariety to FULLY focus on life, much less our faith walk. As seen with many people who need their choice of drink or candy bar snack each day; our minds can get so pre-occupied with getting our next "food fix", that we don't realize how much of the day we spend thinking about that, rather than about our mission for Christ. A fast helps "reset the table" for our "daily feast" with the Lord.

There is a current "fasting" trend that is hitting the blog, twitter and facebook realms very heavily in the past few months. Here's just one of the many BLOGS I've read on it: THE DANIEL FAST. Tweeting about the Daniel Fast? Here you go: TWITTER! There is even a FACEBOOK Daniel Fast web page that you can join the ranks of: FACEBOOK . Here is a quick run down on the fast from http://www.daniel-fast.com/about.html :
1. Only fruits and vegetables 2. Only water for a beverage 3. No sweeteners or breads 4. No yeast 5. no artificial or processed foods nor any chemicals

I believe that this fast is a great example of a "modified fast" (as opposed to HARDCORE fasting, just involving water) for a short period of time. People do it to restart their bodies, while looking forward to their return of "normal life eating". People feel good consuming vegetables and fruits which are plumb full of detoxers, vitmins and minerals, along with magnesium that is a natural bowl cleanser. However, in long term eating, our body was made to function at it's best, alongside these vegetables, in "protein" mode; the greatest resource of this being from the complete protein found in meats, especially clean beef. Hence, the reason for our "canine teeth" given to us by God, and the reason God gave us to "EAT ANY ANIMAL THAT HAS A SPLIT HOOF DIVIDED IN TWO and that chews the cud. Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat ANY THAT HAS FINS AND SCALES" Deuteronomy 14:6,9 Why did God take the time to suggest a food guideline? As a suggestion towards discovering good health for use in being a superior Christ follower. Without complete proteins and clean animal fats, our bones/joints will get frail and our muscle, organ and blood cells will not rebuild themselves properly. Many people are finding themselves to be anemic and deficient in iron because of their lifestyle fasting of consuming mostly just fruits and vegetables.

While I retain my stance that the Daniel Fast is a blessing to both onself and God for short periods of time; I strongly believe that a lifestyle eating habit change can be a more effective tool to serve God in the long run. With the Daniel fast, you have a set goal to "look forward to" in returning to processed foods; with a Moses Diet...that's the way life is....take it or leave it. With the Moses diet, it's pretty much the EXACT SAME THING as the Daniel Fast, but you retain optimal health through the continued eating of UNPROCESSED dairy and CLEAN grass-fed meats, and occasional NATURALLY-OCCURING sweeteners which are full of trace minerals if consumed raw (honey, maple syrup). Then, on the Moses Diet, you are so close to already doing a DANIEL FAST, that you may find it more benificial to do a water fast to be cleansed from impurities for short, but meaningful periods of time.

SO....What is the Moses Diet? Here's an excerpt from my previous BLOG POSTING, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT:

In Be Healthy and Happy by Dr. M.H.Tabb, pg 27, he writes, "Moses ate HONEY, OIL, COW BUTTER, MILK OF SHEEP, LAMBS, RAMS and GOATS, SHEEP, and GRAPE JUICE(Deut. 32:13-14).... He ate plenty of QUAIL (Ex. 16:13)"...and in future tense, refers to "the increase of the fields", or PRODUCE. At 120, Moses still had the strength and eyesight of his youth" pg 26.

"Then God said, 'I give you EVERY SEED-BEARING PLANT on the face of the whole earth and EVERY TREE THAT HAS FRUIT WITH SEED IN IT. They will be yours for food.'" Genesis 1:29

"You may EAT ANY ANIMAL THAT HAS A SPLIT HOOF DIVIDED IN TWO and that chews the cud. Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat ANY THAT HAS FINS AND SCALES. You may eat ANY CLEAN BIRD." Deuteronomy 14: 6, 9, 11

So, what is the biggest difference between present day Christians, many sickly at ages 40, 50, 60, etc, and Moses? Our diet and the diets of our parents and grandparents--what we eat, and in the forms we eat it. From all of the above verses, one can understand how to get many of the nutrients our bodies need: by eating Unsprayed FRUIT & Vegetables, RAW Wholemilk DAIRY, most CLEAN (ORGANIC) MEATS, raw natural sweeteners, raw nuts/seeds, ColdPressed oils and WHOLE GRAINS in their MOST NATURAL STATES-- the foods that God intended us to eat.

Contrary to popular belief, God does not mention and Moses did not ingest things like: sugar, high fructose corn syrup, growth hormones and immunizations in beef and dairy, soda-pop, preservatives, enriched flour, vegetables and fruits that are genetically altered, pesticides, herbicides, chemical dyes or MSG.

So, in contrast, the Daniel fast is eating the foods God specifically created for us for a short period of time, then returning to a typical American diet. The Moses Diet is eating the foods God specifically designed for our bodies day in and day out, only VERY occasionally eating out/eating the typical American diet. Fast food, candy bars, pastry products, sugar cereals, bottled drinks, etc are the exception, rather than the daily/weekly "norm". Please consider a Moses Diet, instead of just Daniel Fasting here and there. While fasting is good to restart the body, the Moses Diet was designed to sustain it. If you take your daily diet a step further, along with your choice of fasting style a step further....you are THAT much closer to your biblical ancestors and to you Savior's lifestyle!

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. ******

The REAL Reason For Easter

PLEASE PAUSE MUSIC PLAYER IN THE RIGHT COLUMN, BELOW to hear this video! Thank You!!




The Real Reason for Easter - Revelation Song

As I watched this video, the goosebumps I got reminded me of the truly great suffering that my Savior went through for me. From betrayals.....to hate....to so much more PHYSICAL suffering than any of us could possibly fathom! Yet, at times we may get wrapped up in only the commercial meanings of Easter (eggs, bunnies, candy--the fluffy, fun "cute" stuff). Easter was never meant to be just "fun" or "cute" ... instead it was meant to be a symbolically spiritual experience between us and the one who was sent to give us eternal life. It may start out MORE fluffy and cute for the little "tikes"--but as they grow and mature, so shall their understanding of the main purpose for celebrating Easter as we share more with them. Boy, that seems so much MORE meaningful than just embracing the peeps and egg hunts....doesn't it?

As our family heads off to church, family gatherings, and YES an Easter Egg hunt for our young daughters on Sunday--my prayer is that they will also keep the meaning of Easter in their heads that we have shared with them since they were babies. Each year as we give them a new Easter book with a depiction of Jesus' story...they ask more questions and we give more details. They are beginning to know the true meaning of why Easter began....alongside a bit of the fluffy cute stuff.

Happy Easter to you and your family!
Ms. Salubrious

OUR DOG STORY

We adopted our 6 year old husky from the humane society in the fall of 2002. Over the next 4 years, we took note that she had only a few health problems. Some of the health problems she faced over these 4 years included: kennel cough, ruptured anal glands, torn leg ligaments, and a lack of appetite. She was on and off medications for these various problems, along with a few surgeries here and there. We experimented with several different brands of commercial dog foods, but nothing seemed to tickle her fancy--she didn't even go ga-ga over table scraps like most dogs did!

Our dog's road to natural health fell upon us in the spring of 2006. Leading up to this, the previous fall, she was chasing a rabbit and started limping; she had torn a knee ligament. My uncle and aunt's dog had just died from a staph infection after a routine teeth cleaning surgery, so my greatest concern was that our dog would have a similar result from her surgery the vet prescribed. The vet assured me that she would be fine. She had the surgery:

She was doped up on pain medication, anti-infection meds and within a few days would not leave her bed spot without being carried (just picture me carrying our husky to her food bowl and down a flight of stairs to go outside!) Our dog stopped eating, stopped pooping and laid on her bed lethargically from day to day getting worse. As we had visitors drop by, they made comments, "She's pretty much gone" or "She's given up on life; there's nothing you can do" and "Is that dog even alive still?"

After not having eaten for over 10 days, and drinking minimal droppers of water, I called the Vet, "You can bring her in to do testing to find out which body parts are shutting down...." SERIOUSLY? THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE FOR ME??? Well, you can imagine why we took the matter in our own hands then, with me spending late hours on the computer doing research on canine health. What I came up with was that her body was too weak from malnutrition to be able to recover from a major surgery. MALNUTRITION? BUT, how could that be since we fed her good brands of commercial dog foods?!?!

INSTEAD....my question SHOULD have been, "Are we feeding her the type of food that God created a dog to eat?" The answer would have been "no". In my research, I found a dog needs to eat a majority of their diet as protein, not as grains and carbs as most commercial dog food is made. OF that protein, it should be raw--just as a canine would eat out in the wild!

MY EXPERIMENT: I held a piece of raw meat in front of her nose--not having eaten for 10 days, keep in mind--and the RAW was KEY, because we had tried plenty of cooked meat! Her ears perked, her nose wriggled and she slowly accepted the food. Over the next few days as her appetite came back, we gave her an enema (yeah, gross!!) to get her bowels moving again (NATURES SUNSHINE LOWER BOWEL STIMULANT DROPS worked for ongoing flushing for the next few weeks) and fed her milk, raw eggs, bits of raw steak and hamburger to keep her eating. Within a week she was running around as her usual self.

Our dog is 13 years old now and has a healthy appetite, plays throughout the day, sees well, hear well, has all of her teeth, and even chases rabbits and other critters regularly around our yard. In fact, most new visitors think she's about 5 years, as their mouth drops when we tell her REAL age! She has not needed any medications or vet visits for health problems in the past 4 years (she doesn't GET health problems, in fact!), and is in GREAT SHAPE considering where she was before and directly following her surgery. She doesn't get the luxury of having special food bought for her....instead we have found a very budget-conscious diet plan for her....still involving raw foods. If you are interested in how we have done this--tune back in for my next BLOG POSTING on NATURAL CANINE HEALTH!

God Bless, 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. ******

Natural Health First Aid Kit

• INFECTION FIGHTERS:
  
  Epsom Salt -- just regualr store boughten from any pharmacy, add 1-2 cups to baths to relax muscles and fight infection (1/2 cup to 1 cup for little ones)
  
• Organic Apple Cider Vinegar -- a natural bacterial fighter. Add a few cups safely to any bath, even using it each bath through the winter time as a preventative measure. Taken internally is a tremendous immune booster, if taken daily.
• GOLDENSEAL HERB -- the natural version of an antibiotic. Taken 1-2 capsules every 1-3 hours when infected with anything. If no improvement, take more often to see results. Drops available for kiddos: Goldenseal Echinacea
• Morton Salt -- make "salt packs" out of 1 cup salt and a thin ziplock baggie. Apply to infected area for an hour at a time, doing as often as able, switching to new each round(time allowing) salt naturally draws toxins/infection out of the body.
• Heat packs/Hot water bottle -- lay on infected area, opposite of salt packs. If no hot water bottle available, then use hot wach cloth is thin zip-loc baggie.
• WOOL SOCKS --The COLD WET SOCK TREATMENT increases circulation to the feet. As the body tries to warm the feet, it causes the excess mucus in the body to break-up. Get a pair of cotton socks thoroughly dampened in icy cold water, or place wet socks in the freezer for a few minutes. Wring out well and put them on your child's feet, immediately following them with the dry wool socks. These prevent drafts, and also allow the feet to 'breathe'. Repeat if necessary.
• Enema Kits/Stool Softener: LOWER BOWEL STIMULANT CAPSULES , for kiddos: LB EXTRACT, and the stimulant tea: SMOOTH MOVE TEA by Traditional Medicinals ENZYMES. Getting the stools moving (which get backed up and pushes mucus upwards with allergies and illnesses) is the fastest way to push something out of your body that doesn't belong!

BLADDER/URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS:

• Cornsilk Herb Capsules work WONDERS for getting rid of bladder and UT Infections!
• Organic Cranberry Juice (be sure to check label for no additives--R.W. Knudsen is most ideal brand)
• CANTHARIS or STAPHYSAGRIA homeopathic remedies most common for treating bladder infections, found at many natural health stores

EAR INFECTIONS:

• Lobelia tincture, essence, or extract to relax ear tissue and relieve pain. Apply to the gland under the ear, covering an area at least the size of a quarter
• Sage and Fenugreek-Thyme help the body break up mucus
• FERRUM PHOS and PULSATILLA are the 2 homeopathic remedies that help with ear infections the most. Pulsatilla assists the body in breaking up mucus and pus, and Ferrum Phos assists the body in cleansing the glands next to the ear, relieving the pressure that causes the pain.
• Drops for pain/infection (DO NOT USE on children with tubes in the ears). Warm momentarily in a pan: (DO NOT PUT IN HOT DROPS, wait until it cools to a nice warmth): a mixture of 1-tablespoon COLD PRESSED OLIVE OIL, 2 drops Tea Tree oil and a clove of ORGANIC GARLIC. Only two drops of this mixture are put in the infected ear. Lie down 10 minutes on the opposite ear so the oil will go deep into the ear. Use a warm compress over the ear after the oil is in place to help relieve the pain
• Cold Wet Sock Treatment (see description above)
• Enema to get stools moving is the number one treatment to do, but many would rather try the others first....

SINUS INFECTIONS:

• KALI BICHROMIUM is hands down, the best sinus infection/sinus cold homeopathic remedy, can be found at many natural health stores.
• Fenugreek-Thyme Herb Capsules thin mucus naturally, take 1-2 every 1-3 hours. Take more or less for desired outcome.
• Heat compressions/Hot water bottle on face
• Salt Water Sinus Flush
• Be sure to keep stools moving

RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS/COUGHS/SORE THROATS:

• Salt/Hot packs applied to chest
• COLD WET SOCK TREATMENT
• "Throat Coat" Tea by Traditional Medicinals, Basil Tea or Thyme Tea mixed with raw honey willbreak down mucus and relieve sore throats
• IPECAC, SPONGIA, and HEPAR SULPHURIS are the main cough/lung mucus homeopathic remedies to use.
• Gargle with morton salt and water continually

FOOD POISONING/UPSET STOMACH/INDIGESTION:

• Activated Charcoal Capsules absorb toxins and poisons in the system if taken shortly after symptoms appear.
• IPECAC, NUX VOMICA, ARSENICUM and CARBO VEG are the top remedies for sickness from foods
• STOMACH COMFORT CHEWABLES help with occasional acid relief, as does PAPAYA CHEWABLES and dried parsley and organic apple cider vinegar since acid problems most of the time stem from being an indicator that your stomach's enzymes are deficient in some manner (many times from too much sugar/processed foods)

BURNS/CUTS:

• CANTHARIS homeopathic remedy is the best remedy for burns
• Abundant Blessings CALENDULA SALVE made without Petroleum, very hard to find this natural version
• Soaking the burn spot in liquid minerals for 20 minutes works wonders!!

HEADACHES:

• Magnesium Complex provides relief for aches by increasing blood flow to those areas, as does FORMULA 303, a natural version of a pain med found at many natural health stores
• HOT PACK/HOT WATER BOTTLE on achy area
• Regular Chiropractic adjustments
• Diet of little to no processed foods/sugars will do wonders if you're brave enough!

BLEEDING:

• Using typical first aid measures, you can also add the remedy BELLADONNA to help stop bleeding. When our daughter gashed her chin and her shirt was covered with blood down to her waistline, within 5 minutes of taking the remedy, the blood was completely stopped.

BRUSING/SWELLING/CUTS/SCRAPES/PUNCTURE WOUNDS:

• The 3 main homeopathic remedies that help the body fight associated pain are the following: HYPERICUM, ARNICA, SYMPHYTUM...or else they sell the combination remedy including all of these three by ENERGIQUE to be used with more mild symptoms.
• Hypericum is for numbness, shooting pains and puncture wounds involving nerves
• Arnica is the first homeopathic remedy to consider with sprains, strains, falls, trauma and injury: for bruising, bleeding and deep tissue pain. Works WELL in recovering from surgery once the body is set back to it's normal functioning mode. (NOTE: with a break or fracture,the body needs to be back in normal functioning mode for a remedy to work. Our daughter broke her elbow and didn't get much relief until directly following surgery--but had no pains meds in recovery while using ARNICA!)
• Symphytum is for pain persisting long after an injury.

God Bless, 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. ******

Movie Preview: One Man, One Cow, One Planet

A new movie just came out (on DVD) for all those interested in Organic farming, sustainable living and independent acreage upkeep. What's so special about THIS movie, that Ms. Salubrious wants to promote it? Well, when you come to realize how bad chemical sprays are in reflection to longevity health and preserving nutrients in top soil, you tend to search out alternative resources AWAY FROM using sprays to control weeds. THIS movie is a GREAT RESOURCE in doing this!

Not only does ONE MAN, ONE COW, ONE PLANET touch on the idea of recycling and composting, but takes it a step further in addressing a method for when no nutrients remain in the soil or the items of which you compost! Biodynamic farming uses a set of principles involving: homeopathy, physics, and astronomy (not to be confused with astrology). A Holistic Approach: just as natural health uses the WHOLE body to treat underlying symptoms, and as organic farming uses the ecosystem as a whole to sustain, biodynamic farming similarly takes an even broader approach of using further ecosystems to coincide with the plants being grown to create nutrients. Just like adding (molecular) potential energy to a homeopathic remedy by pounding it to use as kinetic energy--Vortexing (activating) Water, A Biodynamic Principal, gives molecular energy to the soil that no single nutrient can bring!

Here's the Theatrical Trailer for the Movie, PLEASE PAUSE MUSIC PLAYER IN THE RIGHT COLUMN, BELOW to hear this video! Thank You!!




Here are a few excerpts about the movie from the following website:
http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp_291494/Food_Production_-_A_Model_For_The_Future

• Biodynamics is the oldest non-chemical agricultural movement in the West, predating, by 20 years, the organic farming movement.
• "Mineral manuring is a thing that must cease altogether in time, for the effect of every kind of mineral manure, after a time, is that the products grown on the fields thus treated lose their nutritive value." - Rudolph Steiner (1861-1925)
  
• Steiner was convinced that the quality of food in his time had degraded, and he believed the source of the problem was chemical farming's use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides.
  
• Biodynamics revolves around using a set of eight homeopathic-like animal, mineral and plant based preparations.
  
• Pest and disease control on a biodynamic farm is usually managed by developing the farm as a total organism/system. When specific pest and weed control is required products are made from the weeds and pests themselves.
  

God Bless, 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. ******

This Too Shall Pass

If I can endure for this minute
Whatever is happening to me,
No matter how heavy my heart is
Or how dark the moment may be-

If I can remain calm and quiet
With all the world crashing about me,
Secure in the knowledge God loves me
When everyone else seems to doubt me-

If I can but keep on believing
What I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with the morning
And that this will pass away, too-

Then nothing in life can defeat me
For as long as this knowledge remains
I can suffer whatever is happening
For I know God will break all of the chains

That are binding me tight in the darkness
And trying to fill me with fear-
For there is no night without dawning
And I know that my morning is near.

Helen Steiner Rice

Tips for Nursing Moms to Increase Milk Supply

After having 3 bundles of joy, 2 of which I struggled in producing enough breast milk for them, I believe the famous quote we all know, could be re-written to say "The way to a BABY's heart is through their stomach". However, many mommies struggle in keeping their babies fully content in their feedings....thus leading to them heading towards the commercial formula aisle.

There can be a number of causative factors that will bring about a low milk supply. Stress, inadequate diet, lack of sleep, environmental toxins, imbalanced hormone levels, etc. HOWEVER, the good news is that you do not always need to figure out the cause in order to remedy the situation:

• Some women find it helpful to increase a high quality vitamin intake-- NATURES SUNSHINE SUPER SUPPLEMENT is the one I have taken for the past 3 years. During my last pregnancy I increased the amount I was taking each day to combat fatigue, and even found it to be the answer for my hair that was falling out in clumps! (My body was calling out for extra nutrition as the clumps fell out as my symptom!) It also worked to increase my milk supply when I found I was headed down the same pathway of low milk volume as my other 2 previous babies.
• Others get positive results by increasing complete proteins (beef, eggs, fish, etc), finding that their bodies are not getting enough nutrients to both heal/feed their body from the pregnancy and nourish another little life along with that. If you can only take SO MUCH meat as a protein, I enjoy this frosty milkshake as an added form of protein to my diet: LIFEQUEST PROTEIN SHAKES. The great news with this is there are no artificial sweeteners and it works as a good weight loss drink, beings only 5 grams of carbs per serving in the mix! (The chocolate is our family's absolute favorite!!)
• HERBAL Teas that increase milk supply include RED RASPBERRY, FENUGREEK, MARSHMALLOW and "MOTHER'S MILK TEA" from Traditional Medicines.
• Herbs that will typically bring about a substantial supply of breast milk are FENUGREEK and BLESSED THISTLE. Try taking one or the other, 3 capsules, 3 times a day for 3-4 days. Improvement should be substantial and within a few days. If not, then try the other one, and finally try them together if they don't work separate. When taken in moderation as above given, no side effects have been brought forth in studies, other than in some cases a maple syrup smell in the urine and sweat from those taking Fenugreek.
• Changing your diet to a strict one of whole grains, organic vegetables/fruits, raw/organic dairy and grass fed/organic beef may bring about more milk.....but will for sure bring about a happier baby with the exsisting milk supply you have!

One of my friends who just tried some of this out was successful in drinking the "MOTHER'S MILK TEA" twice a day and taking 1 FENUGREEK CAPSULE with each meal. She recently wrote to me about her experience,

"In about 1 week, my production has almost doubled! I am amazed! Not only is (my baby) happier, but is sleeping better and I am able to store a couple feedings every day."

If you have tried all of the above in various combinations and find there has been no change, PLEASE CONSIDER a natural form of supplementation before using a commercial formula! A baby's digestive system can handle naturally designed nutrients much better than man-made. With my second child, nothing worked to increase milk production and she was such a big "snacker", so I supplemented with ORGANIC HALF & HALF from 3 months on. This contented her and she excitedly looked forward to her bottles of these between nursings! Organic half & half is natural and with the high amount of fat in it, baby will plump up nicely (our second daughter has the best muscle-tone & most natural body shape out of my 3--well nourished!!) ALSO, no worries about allergies like with regular milk.....the high amount of fat helps break down the proteins that babies cannot normally break down with just regular milk.

Doctors will "caution you" because they typically have gotten away from this idea with formulas coming around....but any grandmother or natural health practitioner will attest to using this in the past hundreds of years before formula existed. The babies years ago didn't get as many chronic and repeat ear infections like they do now days with formulas. I have a few other friends who did this and worked nicely as well.

God Bless, 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. ******