Roots of Healthy Living

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Roots of Healthy Living
http://rootsofhealthyliving.com.

By reading this article you will clearly and easily learn what antioxidants are, their function in our health and how they can fight the antiaging process. We will talk about why getting enough sources of antioxidants are vital when exercising. We will discuss where we find sources containing high levels of antioxidants, including types of foods and herbal supplements. We will learn about the health benefits of antioxidants and be introduced to research linking cures for disease to antioxidants in the diet. Also, we will cover the potential consequences of not having sufficient sources of antioxidants in our diet.

What Are Antioxidants and how do they Work?

To understand what antioxidants are and how they work, we first have to have a simple chemistry lesson on free radicals. What are free radicals? They are atoms or groups of atoms (molecules) that are missing an electron. Electrons like to be in pairs. When you have a single electron in an atom or molecule it ravages other cells and robs them of one of their own. This process not only damages the cell but causes that cell to become a free radical since it is now the one missing an electron. This process can cause a chain reaction continuing to damage cells until it is stopped. This is called oxidation.
It is important to understand that oxidation has its role. It is by oxidation that the body slowly and carefully breaks down food and stores it for potential energy. The irony is that this same process can damage our cells causing premature aging, muscle soreness and fatigue, disease, etc.

Where do Free Radicals come from?

Something as simple as breathing can be a problem, as oxygen is an example of free radicals. The very source that gives us life also causes that oxidation process. Athletes, who do a lot of aerobic exercise, naturally take in more oxygen and can be vulnerable to accelerated free radical oxygen damage. Over time this cellular damage can lead to injury, longer recovery, extreme muscle soreness, etc. Other sources of free radicals are everything from toxic metals in our bodies such as lead, to things like pesticides, ionizing radiation, alcohol and cigarette smoke. Sun damage can also be a source of free radicals as well as eating fried food. All of these examples combined can wear down the muscle tissue and cause our bodies to wear out and age a lot faster. The causes are many, and it can seem like a hopeless situation. That’s where antioxidants come in.

Antioxidants, Nature’s Super Heroes!

Antioxidants are the antidote to the damage caused by oxidation in our bodies. Antioxidants are free radical scavengers. They can neutralize a free radical by donating one of their own electrons without causing problems within their own structure. While antioxidants are manufactured within the body it is not enough to combat all the oxidation happening. Making sure we are getting antioxidants from foods we eat and other supplemental sources is critical to our health and vitality. Current research shows antioxidants may benefit in the fight against allergies, cancer, help with inflammation, and viruses. They can help increase recovery time in athletes as well as provide what is termed, “Nature’s Sunscreen”. Specific herbal sources of antioxidants can even target certain areas of the body, helping not only repair tissue damage but carry in needed nutrition as well.


Antioxidant Foods, Eating Your Way to Better Health

A good rule of thumb is the darker the fruit or vegetable the more antioxidants it contains. For example, berries are EXTREMELY high in antioxidants. So are your dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale.
To get your best sources of antioxidant foods, you want to look at raw fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds. Vitamins C&E are antioxidants as well as Vitamin A. Be careful, however, because research shows that it is necessary to get these vitamins from the foods themselves to gain the maximum benefits. Don’t be fooled into just taking a vitamin supplement and think you are getting the antioxidants you need. Think instead of the produce section of your local grocery store. Vitamins C and E work synergistically, or in other words, they work better as a team than individually.
An additional caution, be aware that cooking your food (including pasteurization) destroys both Vitamins C and E so look to eat raw fruits and vegetables. The ascorbic acid put back in is not complete Vitamin C and will not provide the same antioxidant benefits as eating the whole food.
For sources of Vitamin C think of oranges, strawberries, pineapple and Kiwi. For Vitamin A, turn to carrots, sweet potatoes and apricots. For Vitamin E choose nuts, seeds and healthy vegetable oils.
To have a diet rich in antioxidants, have a diet full of healthy fruits and vegetables. Try to eat a good size salad every day. Eat fresh fruit for breakfast. Grab a handful of nuts on your way out the door. Snack on some fresh or frozen blueberries. With a little focus you can easily make antioxidants a part of your daily food intake.
Make a conscious effort to include these in your lifestyle and begin eating your way to better health.

Herbal Antioxidants Can Help Target Specific Health Concerns

Herbs are a FANTASTIC source of antioxidants that don’t get enough attention. Many of these antioxidant herbs have proven to consistently concentrate in certain areas of the body making it easier to work on. For example, Gingko is an herb that is growing in popularity. It is an antioxidant that can go to your head, literally. It concentrates in the brain, in the eyes and in the inner ear. Pairing it with other antioxidant herbs like Gotu Kola and Rosemary has proven very effective with memory, macular degeneration in the eyes, helping soothe ADD and many other related health problems.

Here are some additional herbs for specific areas:

For the liver: Bitter Herbs like: Milk Thistle, Dandelion and Parsley
For Digestion: Pungent Herbs like: Turmeric, Ginger, Cayenne and Mustard.
For the heart: Hawthorne Berry and Cayenne
For the entire body: Grape Seed Extract and Ginseng

Research is clearly connecting the dots between health and the role of antioxidants. Knowledge of how herbal supplements can target specific areas of the body helps us in improving our overall health. Choosing raw fruits and vegetables as well as nuts and seeds can flood our bodies with plenty of antioxidants, including Vitamins C &E. By understanding and utilizing the information in this article we can empower ourselves to increase our energy, decrease our recovery time after strenuous exercise and begin to take back our health!

Allergies have hit big at our house this week.

My son was telling me yesterday that our town had the highest pollen count in the world yesterday. So I guess there is a reason for the runny noses, itchy throats, read eyes, etc.For years, my husband and son have not enjoyed Spring. They are allergic to grasses and we happen to be the grass capital of the world. Not good.

Starting in early spring they would usually both be drugged out on Benadryl and miserable. They've tried every allergy product out there. Last year, when we were looking for natural alternatives we found some great herbal solutions. Jeff only had to take an over the counter allergy mediciation twice the entire season.

So, what do we do?

Dr. Christopher has a great product out there called Immucalm. It is 50 percent Astragulus Root and 50 percent Marshmellow Root. Astragulus is great at strengthening the immune system and marshmellow is soothing. Allergies are the body's way of overacting to something it shouldn't be overreacting to. This combination calms down the overreaction and yet still strengthens the body at the same time. It is amazing. I would never be without this combination.

Nettles are another great herb for allergies. I don't know how it works, I only know that it does. Yes, this is the stinging nettle that we have all learned to fear. It is one of natures GREAT overall nutritional herbs. It containes many minerals in it and has wonderful healing properties. If you go to any herbal/healthfood store this time of year you will see displays of Nettles in tinctures, capsules, and even herbal tea. Why? Because it is great for allergies and a host of other ailments.

For eyes, we use Dr. Christopher's Herbal Eyebright Formula. It is an eyewash. You take 3-5 drops in a little glass eye cup (from the health store) filled with distilled water and wash out your eye. It has a little sting to it but worth it for the results you get.

Last year, my son woke up one day with his allergies so bad and his eyes so red he couldn't even see. He was a freshman in highschool. He was miserable and refused to go to school. I had a class and needed to leave. I told him about the Herbal Eyebright Formula and how to use it. I had never used it before so I said it was up to him if he was brave enough or desperate enough to try it. An hour later I came home to find his eyes clean and white and he was ready for school. We've been a fan ever since.

The last product we love is Dr. Christopher's Sinus Plus Formula. It containes the herb Brigham Tea which has some mild ephedra properties and seem to help with the congestion and runny nose problems associated with allergies.

We stock up on all of these herbs well before springtime allergies hit. I would not be afraid to use them for ANY type of allergy in my family. They idea is the same for all types of allergic reactions. Strenthen and calm the immune system.

Mountain Rose Herbs have some WONDERFUL how to videos. I am including this one as an additional help to the previous post on St. John's Wort. Enjoy!

What do you know about St. John's Wort? Living in the northwest it comes up a lot as an herbal remedy for seasonal depression. That's about all I knew.

Many people have found it very helpful with treating anxiety, stress, depression, chronic fatigue, etc. It is also wonderful for treating damaged nerve endings due to wounds, burns and other skin related injuries. I discovered this personally this past month or so.

In a recent herb class the teacher produced some olive oil that had been infused with St. John's Wort and shared a story where it had helped someone recover from nerve damage. Now, (I don't believe in coincidences) the week before I had suddenly lost the feeling down the front of my right leg. It had happened over night and I hadn't told anyone. Well, my hand shot up and I asked if it would be appropriate to try it on my leg. She actually gave me some oil to take home. I applied it that night and by the next morning it had already begun to work. It took about three weeks and the feeling in my leg was completely recovered. Amazing.

It is important to apply the oil where you think the nerve damage occured, not necessarily where you are numb. For example, If you had recent surgery or an injury in a certain place and all of a sudden you can't feel in another area...treat the area of the surgery or injury first.

In my case, I had a scar on my leg and was certain the damage there was what was causing the nerve damage. It worked like a charm.

So, how do you make an oil infusion? Here is a basic simple recipe that works for just about any herb or combination of herbs.

Recipe for St. John's Wort Infused Massage Oil
*Get a clean sterile glass jar (you pick the size, small pint jars work great)
*fill the jar with plant material a couple inches from the top
(with St. John's Wort use 70% flowers and 30% leaves)
They can be fresh or dried...doesn't matter (dried need a little extra room to reconstitute)
*Cover with good quality olive oil an inch above plant material
*Put in a dark place and shake twice a day for two weeks
*Strain, bottle in dark glass bottles and your ready to go!

Note: There are a lot of healthfood stores that carry bulk herbs, or you can find them online. Two of my favorite online sources are Wholesome Botanicals and Mountain Rose Herbs.

This particular blog has been a challenge for me to write. Why? Because talking about milk, cheese, ice cream, ...it's like I'm insulting a member of the family. It's probably only second to taking on chocolate! It is important information to share but at the same time can be difficult to hear. So I ask you for three things. First, hear me out. Keep your mind open to what you will read, and remember, that knowledge is power. Second, change is difficult. Even in my family we are not perfect at eliminating dairy. Start small and focus on things that you can eat that you love...not things you love that you are trying to avoid. Somehow the pull gets stronger whereever you choose to place your energy. Three, don't take my word for it. At the bottom of article, I will leave some recommended websites and books with more information. My challenge is to do your homework and find out if there is merit to what I'm sharing.

Now...on to the blog.

Why do we avoid dairy in my house?

Reason Number One: One of the greatest studies ever done on the link between diet and disease is called, "The China Study". Unlike America where we pretty much all eat the same, over in China two bordering towns will have a completely different diets. In tracking the relationship between cancer and diet, over and over the relationships were unmistakable. Cancer rates went up in proportion to the amount of animal products consummed in those particular villages. Where little to no animal products where consummed, cancer rates were almost non-existant.

Reason Number Two: Milk is nature's hormone delivery system. Think about it. Babies need hormones to grow and hormones are meant to be delivered through milk. We are choosing to drink hormones meant to help a baby calf grow. No wonder obesity is on the rise. Now, think about all the growth hormones added to milk these days and how many of those hormones are being delivered to us and our children. Back in the mid 1840's the average age a girl started her period was 17. Now it is 12. Hormone related cancers have skyrocketed in the last 50 years, including breast cancer and testicular cancers. A dairy cow used to produce a quart of milk a day. Now, it produces several times that amount.

Reason Number Three: The calcium myth is just a myth. It was the Dairy Farmers back in the 50's that got together and created the Four Food Groups so we would buy more milk. It was profit driven, pure and simple.

Fact: American women drink 30 times as much cow's milk as do the women of New Guinea yet we suffer forty-seven times more broken hips. Why? It's something called a Negative Calcium Balance.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman in his book Eat to Live said, "Animal protein ingestion results in a heavy acid load in the blood. This sets off a series of reactions whereby calcium is released from the bones to help neutralize the acid. The sulfur based amino acids in animal products contribute significantly to urinary acid production and the resulting calcium loss."

In other words, we can actually lose more calcium that we get from eating dairy products. There are several other diet factors that also cause this calcium loss that compound the problem. These can include salt, caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol, nicotine, antibiotics, steroids, and thyroid hormones. (I will do separate article on good places to get calcium so watch for it.) If our diet contained a great source of fresh fruits and vegetables, high in calcium, we might be able to slow down the calcium bone loss while still eating small amounts of meat and dairy, but unfortunately are entire diet stems around not only those animal products, but refined foods, drugs and stimulants.

Reason Number Four: It takes many quarts of milk to make one pound of cheese. Now, multiply everything we've learned about milk. Cheese contains more saturated fat and many more of the hormone-containing and hormone-producing substances than anything else you could eat. Cheese is one of the worst foods you could eat.

Reason Number Five: Our primary exposure to Dioxin, a highly toxic chemical, is from dairy fat. Even the Environmental Protection Agency admits is is a "prominent cause of many types of cancer" for those who consume a lot of butter and cheese.

Reason Number Six: We have found allergies clear up, ear infections and sinus infections disappear, breathing is easier, and I've even learned that it is rare if not impossible to get strep throat if you don't drink milk. Who knew?

Reason Number Seven: Many people find that they are lactose intolerant. The casein found in milk sugar is actually used as glue. Over time this glue can accumulate in your colon and prevent you from assimilating all the nutrients from your food.

Ok...take a deep breath. Where this only begins to discuss this topic it is enough to start thinking out of the box. Remember that changes happen slowly. If this is something you want to start eliminating from your life I have good news. There are SO MANY options out there to ease off the dairy addiction. You can find all kinds of cheese, milk, icecream, etc. that tastes great and is made from rice, soy, almonds, etc.

I have found, personally, that turning to water, fresh juices, and herbal teas have made me feel better, lighter and healthier...and I don't miss the dairy like I thought I would.

Books:
Don't Drink Your Milk by Frank A. Oski
Milk A-Z by Robert Cohen
Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman
The China Study

Websites:
notmilk.com

About four o'clock today, I got a craving for PF Changs lettuce wraps. I figured there had to be a way to make a healthier version...and fast! This is what I came up with.

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts or one rotisserie chicken OR one block of extra firm tofu
1-2 TB Olive Oil
Onion Powder to taste
Garlic Powder to taste
Grated Ginger
Orange Peel
Juice of One Orange
Nama Shoyu (or soy sauce) to taste

I don't like to eat a lot of meat so I did chicken for the family and tofu for Jeff and I. I went to the local health store and bought a hormone free rotisserie chicken, diced it up in a pan with a little olive oil. I added some grated ginger, onion powder, garlic powder and orange peel. I added the juice of one orange and plenty of Nama Shoyu (a type of soy sauce) and let it heat through.

The tofu is easy to use instead. I like the extra firm blocks of tofu. I diced it up in bite sized pieces and cooked it just like I did the pan of chicken.

Salad Wraps:
One head of romaine lettuce
match stick carrots
shredded cabbage

Peanut Sauce:
1/4 cup Adam's Peanut Butter (or other natural peanut butter)
1/4 cup raw honey
1-2 TB Nama Shoyu, Bragg's Liquid Aminos, or Soy Sauce
2 TB rice vinegar
a little hot water to thin if needed

Everyone ate alot, and my craving was satisfied!

This week I was asked to share what I usually eat for breakfast. This is a loaded question which requires some explanation.

We've always been taught that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In that declaration also comes the assumption that it needs to be big and hearty to give your body energy to survive the day. On the surface that makes sense. I want to change the paradigm for a moment.

Through my studies this past year I have learned that most of us walk around with colons that do not function very properly. Unfortunately the American Diet tends to lean very heavily on animal products and refined foods. Both can reek havoc on our systems. Milk and diary along with white flour and other refined foods can actually work like layers of glue in our intestines. Those layers build up over time and can make it increasingly difficult for our body to absorb the nutrients that we need from the food that we eat. So, we have a double whammy. 1) The foods we eat are not nutrient dense and 2) What we do eat is having difficulty getting into our systems.

The average American probably only assimilates about 8% of the nutrients in the food that he or she is eating. What are the consequences? We are always hungry. Our bodies are literally starving. In fact, most often, the more overweight you are the more your body is in starvation mode. It is constantly sending out hunger signals because it's not getting what it needs. How often do you find yourself rummaging all day and never satisfied? Or you eat a gigantic meal and an hour later your hungry again?

So, what is the answer? The place to begin is the colon. Until we heal the colon we will continue on this roller coaster. There are some great cleansing programs out there. Dr. Christopher has a great three day juice cleanse that is works fantastic, is inexpensive and easy to do. There are also great herbs out there specifically designed to work on the bowel. One of the greatest is Slippery Elm.

In addition, eating more plant based whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, etc, and less of the other will speed up the healing, you will lose weight, feel better, and have more energy.

When your colon is working properly it is possible to take in up to 40% of the nutrients being consummed. Add to that, eating foods that contain more organic vitamins and minerals in greater quality and you are eating less and getting much more out of what you eat.

So back to breakfast. I usually "break my fast" with fruit, large glass of water, and some herbal supplements. Sometimes I grab a handful of almonds. If I'm really hungry I eat a bowl of oatmeal or other cereal like it. I most often stick to fruit and am never really hungry. I let my body continue to cleanse throughout the morning. Remember fruit is great for cleansing. (Refer to previous blog on Fabulous Fruit) Some of my favorite breakfasts are:

Lite Breakfasts:
*smoothies,
*fresh juice
*Bowl of fresh fruit
*Chopped apple, sprinkled with cinnamon & honey warmed on the stove
*Grab a Banana, apple, etc. and go
*Raw Almonds
*Cup of Herbal Tea with Whole Grain Toast

Bigger Breakfast:
*Whole Grain Cereal like Oatmeal
*Thermos Wheat Cereal: Put whole wheat into thermos the night before, cover with boiling water, let sit overnight and serve with honey and raisins or chopped fruit.

*Whole grain toast with peanut butter and banana drizzled with honey
*Granola (make your own or buy health store brand) with soy yogurt or rice milk and chopped fruit.

I love Mexican Food. I was concerned that eliminating dairy products meant giving it up. How do you do Mexican Food without cheese and sourcream? It's actually quite easy because there are so many delicious flavors still out there. With the richness in beans and avocados, I never miss the dairy...and I feel great instead of heavy after eating.

This is a variation of a recipe I found several months ago:

In a blender mix:

1 can of pinto beans
1/4 cup Nutrional Yeast
small handful of raw cashews
1 TB Chili Powder
1 tsp onion powder
2-3 TB salsa (I like to use 2 TB red and 1 TB green)


This is perfect for a dip by itself. Or spoon some on corn tortillas, roll them up and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. I like to serve them with homeade guacamole. The nutritional yeast is what gives it a "cheesy" flavor.

My kids balk at a lot of the "healthy" food I make but they like this one ALOT!!!

I'll do an article on Nutritional Yeast soon, so watch for it.

Yesterday, after writing the blog on cold and flu remedies, I decided to try and make my own Elder Berry Syrup.

Elder Flowers and Elder Berries are wonderful at helping combat colds, flus, and upper repiratory infections. Like Cayenne, although milder, it helps bring on a sweat (diaphoretic), helping clean out the infection and reducing fever.
.
It also is great at strengthening the immune system. It would be great to combine with Echinacea.

Elder Flower and Peppermint Tea is another very famous remedy.

For children (and even adults), a syrup is a great way to take your medicine because it tastes so good. I have seen them for sale at most health food stores.




Here is how I did it:

1/2 cup dried Elder Berries (1 cup if fresh)
3 cups of distilled water
1 cup raw honey










-Simmer berries (don't boil) for 45 minutes
-Mash berries
-Strain
-Add Honey
-Bottle and refridgerate

Should last for several months.





NOTES**********

I found the syrup almost to sweet for my taste. I would probably reduce the honey a little bit next time.

I've never picked fresh Elder Berries, but I've heard not to eat them raw and not to eat the red berries, only the blue ones.

This is my daughter Katie. Katie has Down Syndrome and will turn nine this summer. Until this past year, she was always getting sick, especially with ear and sinus infections. It is typical for children with Down Syndrome to have small respiratory systems and be prone to having the slightest cold turn into an infection. She missed a lot of school and was always on round after round of antibiotics. (More of her story can be found under "Testimonials" at the top of the page, but suffice it to say that I felt there had to be a better way.)

It actually has been amazingly simple to keep her healthy. We have eliminated dairy, which has made a HUGE difference in her overall health. When she does get sick we know what to do. She even had the swine flu last fall and we were able to treat everything at home very successfully. Knowledge is power! So Katie and I would like to share some of our favorite remedies with you:

There are some VERY simple things that we do for colds, flu, sinus and ear infections at out house. These simple things have proven to be effective and have kept us out of the doctor's office for over a year now.

Most of these things you can make yourself or find at a healthfood store.

EAR INFECTIONS











Garlic Oil
**warm to room temperature (in hand or cup of hot water)
**place 2-3 drops in infected ear

Mullein Oil
**same thing as above, warm it and put 2-3 drops in infected ear.

Lobelia Tincture
**If there is a lot of pain we also add a drop of Lobelia tincture in each ear to help while the garlic and mullein are working. You can repeat this procedure 2-3 times a day if needed, while awake.

Dr. Christopher's Sen Sei Ointment
**Another product we love at our house is Dr. Christopher's Sen Sei Ointment. We rub a little under the ear and down the neck and it helps open up blockages so draining can happen.



COLDS AND FLU

Echinacea

At the first sign of illness we start Katie on Echinacea. She can swallow capsules but we usually use a glycerin tincture because it's sweet and she likes it. There are several great brands out there specifically made for kids. You can also do an herbal tea by following the same instructions as the Dandelion Root Tea.

Echinacea works by stimulating the immune system. We take it up to every hour if necessary if we are trying to fight off a new bug. It can also lose it's effectiveness after a while so I've heard it suggested to go six days on and 2 days off.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
While people usually think of this as an herb to be used during pregnancy, it is FANTASTIC at wording off colds and flu. We make up a large amount, mix it with apple juice and have everyone drink as much as they can, especially that first couple of days. We use this along with water to drink and eliminate all other drinks until the illness has passed.



Elder Berries

Elder Berries are another great cold/flu remedy. Also a great tasting syrup or tincture for kids. This is very popular in Europe and easy to find in healthfood stores. There are many recipes online if you want to make your own.

Cayenne

If your child is older, cayenne is a great way to fight off a coming cold or flu. We have them take some cayenne capsules, take a hot bath or shower, take a couple more capsules, dress warm and go to bed. Often times the sweating action during the night will sweat out the virus and they will feel great in the morning.

Dr. Christopher's Infection Formula

My personal favorite remedy for Katie and the entire family is Dr. Christopher's Infection Formula. I have seen a sinus infection clear up in hours with this combination. I would never want to be without it.

I hope you will try some of these remedies and let me know what you think.

To kick off the summer, I thought we would talk about fruit.

Being from the northwest, berries are BIG in my family. U-pick farms dot the country side with strawberries, bluberries, and raspberries. Blackberries literally cover the hills and roadsides. Berries are one of the highest antioxidant foods out there, especially blueberries.

Stone fruits, like apricots and cherries are not far behind and equally delicious. Late summer and early fall will bring the arrival of melons, peaches, pears, grapes, and apples.

Thanks to modern transportation it is possible to have fresh fruit year round. Bananas, mangos, pineapples, kiwis, and papayas, (and more) grace the local produce section of the markets.

Freezing fruit is easy and preserves much of the nutritional content. During the winter a huge portion of our grocery bill goes to frozen fruit because no matter how much I freeze during the summer, we run out before October. We go through a LOT!

Smoothies, popcicles, and frozen fruit sorbets are where most of it goes. My kids come home from school every day and out come the blender, Magic Bullet, popcicle molds, juicer, and even just bowls and spoons (The popcorn popper usually comes out too, but that's a different article).






This is my daughter Hannah, with Katie making a smoothie and freezing the leftovers into popcicle molds.

Right now we are on a strawberry kick so these are fresh squeezed pineapple juice, bananas and frozen strawberries. If you like it a little sweeter, just add a little agave syrup or honey to the blender.

We have a Champion Juicer which will "juice" frozen fruits that come out like sorbet. My kids call it "that special fruit ice cream" you make. I'll include a picture the next time I make it.


Also, you have not lived until you drink a glass of fresh juice. Be warned though, it will ruin you to the store bought juices. It's a little thicker and tastes like nectar. The best part is the real energy burst you get because you are taking in the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes of several oranges in one glass.

Eating bowls of frozen cherries or blueberries, or fresh fruit salads, with sliced almonds and coconut are desserts within themselves.

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A couple of notes about fruit:

Many people say that they can't eat a lot of fruit because it causes serious intestional consequences. Fruit actually works as a wonderful cleanse for the body. If it is causing problems for you, it might signify a toxic condition. If you rarely eat fruit, when you do eat it the body cleanses as much toxicity out of the body as quickly as it can. Eating more fruits and vegetables and less cooked food will naturally help bring the body into a better balance.

Another thing that is misunderstood is fruit and diabetes. My mom is diabetic and was concerned about a three day juice cleanse that I put her on last summer. Make sure the juice you are drinking is real juice (blood from the fruit) and not reconstituted juice. She did great and her numbers were actually better on the cleanse.

This is absolutely positively the best tasting chocolate shake I have ever had. It's easy to make and if you do it right you will get an authentic energy surge. You can get a pretty good taste by doing it the easy way but won't get as many benefits. I will give you two ways to make it.

First, you need to invest in a really good blender. They can cost alot but are totally worth it if you are serious about changing your lifestyle. Most people own a Vitamix or Blend-tec, mine is a Kitchen-Aid and I love it!

Ok...now for the recipe:

The totally raw way:

1 cup raw almond milk (easy to make yourself)
1 TB of raw honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
1 TB raw cacao powder (cocoa powder that has not been heated)
2 frozen bananans

Directions: Blend the first three ingredients. Add frozen bananas and blend until creamy. If too thick eat it with a spoon like icecream or add a little more milk and share it. Make sure to double it because everyone will want some!

The easier, still tastes good, but not totally raw way:

1 cup almond, rice, or soy milk
1 Tb honey, maple syrup or agave nectar
1 TB cocoa powder or carob powder
2 frozen bananas

Variations:

Have fun substituting some of the banana for frozen cherries or strawberries, or you could add a little mint flavoring...YUM!!!!

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FAQ's:

Why not milk?
In my health revolution I have found dairy products to be one of the most unhealthy foods we can eat. If you are serious about regaining health my challenge is to eliminate all dairy products for six weeks and see if many ailments start to disappear and you don't start to feel a LOT better. I will do a dairy article soon.

How do you make Raw Almond Milk?
The easiest way I know of is to soak almonds overnight.
Blend 1/2 cup almonds to 2 cups distilled water
Add 1 TB sweetener (raw honey, maple syrup or agave nectar)
Strain through cheese cloth or coffee filter and WA LA!!!

**note:
- we keep a jar of soaked almonds in our fridge so they are always on hand.
If you are really lazy (like me) just make the milk...don't strain, add the rest of shake ingredients (doubling everything) and your done.

Where do you find raw honey, raw cacao powder and what is the difference?
I will do a complete article of raw foods in the future but here is the Reader's Digest version: Raw is food that has not been heated and pasteurized killing a lot of the health benefits of that particular food. You can find raw honey and raw cacao powder in most health food stores.

How do you blend up frozen bananas?
I always buy extra bananas and let them ripen well, peel and cut them in half, flash freeze and bag in large gallon bags. If you have a great blender it is not problem to blend them up. You could try smaller pieces the first time if you are worried. You can not freeze enough bananas though. It's what gives your shakes and smoothies that creamy consistency.

Ok, I know what you're thinking...weeds? Seriously? Here me out on this. One amazing thing I have learned is how great those weeds are that we've been taught to despise. When I first learned about Dandelions and how medicinal they are I wondered if I was being taken in. All I knew about them was how everyone sprayed religiously to eliminate them from their lawns. I have seen first hand the miracle healing power they contain. Don't dismiss the delicious dandelion...(yes I said delicious).

Did you know...

Dandelions are dynamic accumulators. What does that mean? They have the ability to extract those inorganic minerals from the soil and turn them into organic minerals we can use. Many plants are great at extracting a certain mineral but dandelion is great at extracting many minerals, including:

sodium, silica, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, cobalt, copper and other trace minerals.

-Did you know that they are also a rich source of vitamin A as well as B1, B2, B3, B5, Folic Acid, B12, and vitamins E, C, H, P (bioflavanoids) and more.

-Did you know dandelion has incredible healing properties for the liver and gall bladder? It is also known as a blood purifier, mild diuretic, and can even help with allergies, arthritis, menstrual cramps, lower back pain, anemia, eczema and acne. It has helpd with stimulating lactation, and even stomachaches. Because of the high vitamin A content it has helped many with vision problems.

-Did you know that it can be a great natural substitute for a water pill? One of the side effects from a "water pill" is losing potassium which helps to regulate heart rhythm. Because dandelion is high in potassium and also works as a mild diuretic it can help remedy this situation. My mother, father, and mother-in-law have all switched to Dandelion and found terrific results.

-Did you know that you can eat the whole plant, roots and all? Many people use the young leaves as salad greens, The milky stems are great for stimulating the liver. My personal favorite are the roots. I tried Dandelion Root Tea a few weeks ago for the first time and was surprised and how great it tasted. You can use fresh roots or dried. The roasted roots are often used as a coffee substitute. Many people like to use the root tea as a tonic in the spring to clean the liver after a harsh winter of heavy foods. I've even heard of people using the flower tops to make jelly. You can find dandelion in most health food stores. You can take capsules, tinctures, drink the tea, or find the greens in the produce section. Or be adventurous and go on a dandelion hunt with your family. So have fun, make friends with the dandelion, stop killing them and start harvesting them!

Recipe for Dandelion Root Tea:




* Place roots & cold distilled water in stainless steel pan.
(about a 1-2 tsp per cup of water)
* Slowly bring to a simmer
* Simmer anywhere from 15-30 minutes (the longer the better)
* Strain out the roots

Enjoy!




I like to squirt a little fresh lemon juice and honey in mine!

Water is the spring of life. We can survive without food for a relatively long time but only a short time without water. Is there a difference in the water we drink? Can one type of water be better than another? YES!!!

Distilled water is the very best type of water to drink. It is simply pure water, pure hydrogen and oxygen. Here are some facts you may or may not know about water:

1) There are over 700 potentially harmful minerals and chemicals found in our drinking water.

2) It is important to know that our understanding of minerals is incorrect. Contrary to popular opinion our body can not assimilate inorganic minerals. In fact, the opposite is true. We break them down into small enough particles so our bodies can take them in but they can't use them. What happens? Those minerals accumulate in our body causing problems (Think of corrosion on pipes). Calcium deposits line our arteries, we develop bone spurs, arthritis can develop where they have settled on the joints, etc. It is important to get our minerals from organic (plant) sources and not from mineral enhanced water (rock) sources.

3)One glass of fresh squeezed orange juice has more usable minerals in it than 30 gallons of water.

4) Distilled water is an empty water. By virtue of its nature it draws other substances into it. So by drinking a lot of distilled water (up to a gallon a day) those inorganic minerals that have accumulated in your body can be cleaned out bringing relief from pain and better overall health.

My personal experience with this is remarkable. Last February I switched to distilled water along with other diet changes. Chronic pain I had suffered in my neck and shoulders for years gradually began to disappear until now I am virtually pain free.

I once heard about a study that was done on an Alzheimers Clinic in Louisianna where nothing was changed but placing the patients on distilled water and fresh air and 70% of the patients showed improvement.

5) Because distilled water is an empty water it is up to 30% more effective at drawing out the medicinal properties of your herbal teas.

6) You can purchase distilled water at most grocery stores very inexpensively or you can make your own. There are many different options for a home distiller in all price ranges.


Water in general is so critical to our health and yet few of us get enough to drink. Many find water relieves headache pain, helps keep them regular, and can help hydrate and soften skin, helps flush out the lymph system carrying toxins out of the body and can even help with weight loss. So the question is...how much water have you had to drink today?

I run into so many people who have never made a cup of loose leaf tea. I found this video and had to share it. Please share your favorite cup of tea...

One of the first things I learned when I began to study natural healing is the wonderful power of cayenne. Cayenne is one of my favorite medicinal herbs and one I would never be without. I carry a tincture in my purse as well as an ointment and have a large supply in my kitchen cupboard.

My first experience with cayenne was last spring when I sliced through my thumb with a kitchen knife. I had heard that cayenne could stop bleeding in seconds so I decided to give it a try. I put a tsp in a glass of water and drank it down. I counted to ten and watched the bleeding slow down and stop. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!! It worked! I have used it many times since and it has never failed.

Cayenne is fabulous heart tonic and has the ability to equalize blood pressure instantly. Dr. Christopher (Founder of the School of Natural Healing) swares he never lost a patient to a heart attack. He has said that even adminstering cayenne even in the middle of a heart attack can stop it instantly.

Cayenne has also been known to pull someone out of shock and or hypothermia. This is one reason I carry a tincture of cayenne in my purse. I carry ointment because of the heat. Cayenne can pull oxygen to the area of injury facilitating faster healing.

It has been known to cure stomach ulcers, help with high blood pressure, and used in combination with other herbs help increase their overall effectiveness.

If you're going to be successful at changing your lifestyle, you have to have chocolate to fall back on...right? But, it needs to be delicious and good for you, right? This one keeps my hand out of the cookie jar! I discovered a variation of this recipe at a recent class I was taking. It has been a "staple" ever since! The combinations are as endless as your personal creativity. Here are the basic guidelines:

Place wet ingredients in a bowl, add your dry ingredients and other extras and stir in until a dough like consistency. Roll into balls and roll in extras or dip in chocolate. These will keep in the fridge for quite awhile (although I've never had to test this).

Nut Butters:
Tahini (Raw or Roasted)
Peanut Butter
Cashew Butter, Almond Butter...you get the idea

Sweeteners:
Molasses (great source of vitamins and minerals)
Raw Honey
Real Maple Syrup

Dry Ingredients
Ground Flaxseed
Ground Sesame Seeds
Raw Cacao or Raw Carob Powder
(Whatever else you come up with...)

Extras:
Add: raisins, dried fruit, chopped nuts, cinnamon, etc.
Roll in coconut, chopped nuts, dip in chocolate, etc.

Potatos, carrots, onions, radishes, beets, etc. are just the beginning of the wonderful root vegetables we can eat that add to our health. Maybe a little less obvious are the medicinal plant roots that also add to our health, like Echinacea, Golden Seal, Burdock and yes, even Ginger.

While these roots are incorporated into a healthy living style it is not the primary reason I chose this title. I love the imagery of getting back to our roots,and recapturing the health that our grandparents and great grandparents enjoyed. Eating produce from the garden, making a cup of camomile tea, in general, finding empowerment to take our health back is the goal of this blog.

I can't wait to start sharing everything I have learned so far and what I continue to learn everyday with all of you!

Is that what you call it? I don't even know the correct terminology. So anyone reading this might wonder what my motivation is for starting this blog. This past year, my life has changed dramatically and I have a desire to share what I have learned and am learning with everyone I can.

February of 2009 found me overweight, tired, sluggish, and in constant pain. At my worst I was averaging 2-3 migraines a week and my neck and shoulders hurt so badly that I would wake up paralyzed in the middle of the night. I would have to take my left hand, slide it under my neck and move to a different position. I was seriously getting concerned for my health and the quality of my life as a mom. How can you be a good mom when all you can do is take a pain pill and go lie down until the migraine goes away?

Another motivation for change is my sweet Katie. She is my eight year old daughter with Down Syndrome. Katie was constantly sick with chronic sinus and ear infections. We were in the Doctor's office every other week for another round of antibiotics. I knew they were hard on her little body and began searching for another way.

Eventually I decided to jump into natural healing with both feet. I looked around and ended up signing up with the School of Natural Healing Online. From the day I started my first class I have not looked back and our lives are so much better. I have lost 30+ pounds and weigh less than when I got married. My husband lost over 50 pounds. My headaches are very rare and Katie has not been to the doctor in over a year.

I hope to share through this blog some of our incredible experiences (and difficulties) in trying to change our lifestyle. It's not easy to change but it is worth it!