The Cancer Diet....Guess What, it is NOT ENSURE!

42-55% of all cancer patients die of malnutrition. What do conventional doctors do? They give patients Ensure, which is full of sugar...talk about putting GASLINE to the fire....cancer feeds on SUGAR! Check out this link for an Ensure label....just because doctors recommend it DOES NOT mean it is a healthy choice - but it certainly keeps them in business, doesn't it?

You cannot CURE cancer if nutrition is not addressed, and incorporating a HONEST TO GOODNESS cancer diet.  This means NO cake, pancakes, breads, muffins, no processed meat and food. Period.
This does not mean forever, but if you want to become cancer free - diet is a HUGE part of recovery.

Does it mean no cake forever, no...but until cancer is in remission, YES. BUT it does not mean you can return to your former unhealthy food choices lifestyle.  Once you have cancer (and we all will - cancer cells are inevitable - unless we are being proactive), and you make the decision that you WANT to LIVE - then healthy food choices is not an option, it becomes a part of life because food either GIVES LIFE or it kills us. Unfortunately most of us don't know we are killing ourselves with food until it is too late.

If you put toxic foods into a body that is already weak in the first place you will not get positive results. Cancer is a wasting disease.

A Study at University of Sydney Australia, where 20 different cancers were looked at ...they found Chemo has a 2.1 success rate with a five year survival margin. Biggest contributors to death among cancer patients...chemo, radiation, diet.   But don't take it from me....learn the TRUTH ABOUT CANCER with the You Tube video in which Ty Bollinger interviews oncologists, PhDs, cancer patients, research scientists from around the world.

May you feel great, look great and live great!
Rita S.

Are Vitamin & Mineral Supplements A Waste of Money?

Since incorporating quality supplements into our family grocery budget we have been able to eliminate all OTC and RX drugs. In the past 3 years sick days total maybe two for adults, and 4 for the kids. Our key brand of supplement has an ORAC score of 8-10,000 - bio available and absorbed in 30 minutes. We are pretty healthy eaters, with limited processed foods.

Purity standards should also be taken into consideration. Inexpensive vitamins contain fillers, and petro-chemicals, artificial ingredients are commonplace. These types of ingredients contribute to endocrine disruption/hormonal imbalance. Not to mention we are flushing our money down the toilet.

Even with an organic whole food diet, the nutrients are not what they used to be in our food supply. Our soils are depleted of nutrients.  Since I began studying cancer preventative/alternative health four years ago - you will not find one holistic cancer treatment protocol that does not include supplements. In fact, the list can be quite long for cancer patients incorporating nutrition protocols into their treatment plans. Patients using supplements fare far better when used in combination with conventional treatments.

The goal of supplementation, of course, is to fuel the body with nutrients and oxygen to maintain, and even reverse the start of disease (including cancer cells - if you are past 30 you can be you have them - a healthy body has the function of apoptosis - programmed cell death - to eliminate these cells).
Toxin elimination also needs to be a part of remaining healthy. Another subject, but it is important to keep the liver functioning at optimal levels as it is your filtering system.

A functional medicine/holistic wellness practitioner can test you for deficiencies. Not everyone is short on calcium. If colon cancer is a part of family genetics or a concern, one will want to monitor and ensure adequate calcium. Certain forms of calcium are recommended for absorption, as well as other vitamins/minerals for a synergestic effect.

Omega 3s are one supplement that many consider the most important. If you take only one supplement, choose Omega 3 with DHA. Ocean contamination is a very real issue, even more so since the Japanese nuclear disaster.  Personally, I opt for a vegan flaxseed oil based Omega 3 in which the sea algae (which provides the DHA benefit) is grown in an environmentally controlled lab to ensure purity standards are adhered to. I encourage you to investigate the purity standards of any brand you consider. Oils should be cold processed and preserved with nitrogen.

Confused by the choice of fish vs. vegan Omega? During the Curing Cancer Summit 2014, taking place right now, Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy stated that the latest research indicates that a vegan, flaxseed oil based Omega 3 is more effective in cancer treatment protocols.  Personally, if it is good enough to fight cancer, why wouldn't I choose the flaxseed O3 over fish and krill?

Magnesium deficiency  is, across the board, a common deficiency in breast cancer patients, according to a report in the Blaylock Wellness (Russell Blaylock MD) newsletter. The same holds true for prostrate cancer.

I have not actually read anything specific about people being prone to Vitamin C deficiency, but with upcoming winter months it is definitely worth considering. Lypo-Spheric Vit. C (specifically by Livon Labs) is the number one choice for those battling cancer, per Bill Henderson in his book, "Cancer Free". It is a gel pack and considered to be highly bio available...even more beneficial than Vit C IV therapy. I can't say it tastes awesome, but it can be mixed into other foods/drinks.

A supplement many overlook but definitely to be considered, in my opinion, is Vitamin D. Doctors in Florida have reported over 90% of their patients deficient. Consider our lifestyles - most people are indoors in offices by day. Vitamin D is actually a hormone, not a vitamin, and is critical for other hormones to be produced by the body. A healthy person can snythesize D2 into D3 (D2 is a vegan form), but if health is compromised one should utilize D3.

Although there are many who warn of Vit.. D toxicity...you can search  this subject in PubMed and find not one case...but instead, the astonishing benefits of high doses of D3.  I am currently reading a fascinating book on the miraculous benefits of extremely high doses of D.  Vit D must be taken with K2. ZRTLabs.com offers in home test kits for a variety of deficiency concerns, hormonal imbalances, including Vitamin D as well.

May you feel great, look great and live great,
Rita S.

Colon Cancer Prevention: Part 1

A good message is worth repeating.  It has been nearly three years since I originally shared my research on colon cancer prevention. At the time I was pretty nervous about my health. Since that time, I have completely turned my health around. I am no longer nervous, but mindful.  I am aware of what I put in my body, both in my gut and on my skin - as the body is blasted with environmental and estrogenic toxins from many different pathways.

Colon cancer ...not only is it coined “the silent killer”, but according to the American Cancer Society it is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. (Moving up from third place in 2007.) For personal reasons, three years ago this was a concern and I began reading quite a bit about this particular cancer, and subsequently made a lifestyle change and incorporated health and wellness products that do not waiver from a pure, safe and beneficial ingredient policy. 

Dr. Robert Russell of Tufts University School of Medicine states that one half the risk of colon cancer is diet related. Changing one’s diet can significantly reduce the risk. I thought I would share some of the steps I have learned one can take to hopefully avoid Colon Cancer. By the time I finished reading from my various sources, this blog post became so long that I feel I must break it up in to two parts. 

So first, some thoughts on causes….
Hormones? In many cases, colon cancer arises from what is known as a polyp, a growth in the colon. I had suspected for some time that colon cancer could be related to hormones. Afterall, if excess estrogen causes cysts in the ovaries, fibroids in the breast, and enlarged prostrate – all forms of excess cell growth, it makes sense to me that excess estrogen also causes the growth of a polyp. In October of 2011 I received affirmation on this theory in reading Dr. Michael Platt's book - The Miracle of Bio-Identical Hormones. Platt concurs and adds colon cancer to the list of cancers in which too much of the estrogen hormone and too little progesterone play a part. I have since increased my Prolief progesterone cream usage upon hearing this to two metered dosages of 20 mg of USP certified transdermal cream per day.

Hormones are worth mentioning, because let’s face it…we don’t want those other forms of cancers either, do we? I am a believer in the benefits of using a bio-identical progesterone cream that counters excess estrogen in the body.

Inflammatory Diet: Dr. Russell Blaylock states, “As with all cancers, chronic inflammation and free radical generation are the ultimate causes. Those with inflammatory bowel conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease,and Type 2 Diabetes, the latter of which results in high levels of free radicals in the body, have high association with colon cancer risk.”

Lack of Sunshine? Studies show that those who live in the northeastern portion of the U.S. have higher incidence than those who live in the south. Why is this? Vitamin D3 deficiency. Studies show that vitamin D3 inhibits many types of cancer, including colorectal cancers. How do you get your D3 – spend 15 min. a day out in the sun without sunscreen! Tanning bed users beware…it is not the same thing! 

During the winter everyone in my family utilizes a vegan Vitamn D/B12 oral spray supplement. Our added bonus is a strong immune system and and ability to fight of colds and influenza viruses readily.
Calcium deficiency is another mineral shown to dramatically reduce colon cancer. However, per Dr. Blaylock, don’t replace your water intake with milk (which substantially increases the risk of prostrate cancer, and even heart attacks). The almond milk I drink every morning in my alkaline based, yellow pea, brown rice and cranberry based protein drink contains 45% of the daily recommended allowance for calcium, as compared to 30% for skim milk. Also, a calcium supplement (look for calcium citrate for absorbability) that also contains Vitamin D and Magnesium necessary for the body to utilize the calcium, and offers colon health support. I was in Costco and noted the highly marketable chocolate chew form of a calcium supplement (geared towards women of course, who usually take a calcium supplement when older) and I noticed that the product did not contain magnesium. So yes, it may taste good, but your body would not be able to make use of the calcium without magnesium present. Most Americans also have a magnesium deficiency, which is a greater problem than we realize, and common amongst many with cancers.
I use a Calcium Plus product that contains all of these nutrients, and the ORAC value is 8,000! (Which means the actual absorption of the product is phenomenal!

Okay, so now we know we need some sunshine and should avoid inflammatory foods (sugar, wheat, gluten, and dairy products are especially inflammatory). What?! Give up bread and cheese? How unWisconsin like, right? If cancer is diagnosed - no doubt, I would give up sugar, glutenous grains, and dairy - especially if it can mean life or death. But if you are in prevention mode, as I am, it simply means cutting back. Moderation.  Consume 70% GREEN FOODS and it will go a long way in providing oxygen to your cells. My daily goal is to consmer a greater percentage of alkaline based, or plant food, over acidic based foods - primarily sourced from animals.  By the way, the hormonal imbalance can be associated to eating animal based foods from animals that have been fed hormones for faster growth, anti-biotics, fed pesticide/herbicide laden grains/crops.  Know your food sources, befriend a farmer, learn their farming practices.

We need to eat vegetables rich in calcium, or supplement, and strive to balance our hormones, either with diet or utilizing bio-identical supplementation (which is not the same as HRT by any means! If you have been reading this blog a while you are aware, and if not, check the topic cloud at the upper right to learn more.) 

What else can we do to help thwart the “silent killer”? I will be sharing more thoughts on colon cancer prevention very soon. Remember, I am not a doctor, but a holistic health junkie, watching out for myself and my family, and sharinig what I am learning along my path towards a health-centered journey. Take control of your health and READ scientifically accredited studies, research by those in the medical field, and always question what you read.  Can it be backed up, or it is repeated by other sources, etc.

To your health,
Rita S.

Gynecomastia - Men and Hormone Imbalance

This evening as I sat down to hop on my laptop, the television is on and another commercial airs over drug side effects and lawsuits pending against the drug companies.  I don't recall the drug name, but the attorneys running the ad were looking for males who had been treated for Gynecomastia, or enlarged breasts in boys and males. Effects of the drug included serious conditions (which seems to be the norm if you read the fine print on prescription drugs doled out on a daily basis).

My ears always perk up when any condition is an obvious result of hormone imbalance. Enlarged breasts in males screams "too much estrogen" in my mind.  Because I study hormone imbalance constantly - it is obvious to me, but may not be obvious to a doctor, or I should clarify that to say, treating the cause with a natural remedy is often not obvious, when training and education focus on prescription drugs to treat symptoms.

Interestingly, drugs prescribed for Gynecomastia are drugs prescribed for heartburn, high blood pressure and even foot fungus. That bit of information makes me scratch my head a bit...

How about looking at the cause of abnormal breast enlargement in males? Now, to be clear, this condition is not the same as fatty tissue deposits from being overweight.  Gynecomastia that occurs during puberty usually resolves without treatment within six months to two years. The condition sometimes develops between ages 10 and 12 years, and most commonly occurs between ages 13 and 14, and is uncommon for the condition to persist beyond age 17.

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you may know by now that male and females have the same hormones - of which there are a variety. It is the differences in amounts of a certain hormone that make us men or women. Balance is necessary or we can run into problems, for example, women with excess testosterone might experience hair loss on top of her head, and excess hair growth above and below the lips. 

Gynecomastia can happen when the balance shifts, with an increase in estrogen or decrease in androgens. This can occur because of expected hormonal changes during puberty or aging, or because of the use of certain drugs or herbal products.  Skin care containing lotions with estrogenic properties may contribute to breast enlargement in males - herbs to be aware of include tea tree oil, lavendar and soy, per a report in the 2007 New England Journal of Medicine. 

Note that soy in diet of males, and a host of environmental estrogens (coined as xenoestrogen by Dr. John Lee) should be considered when determing the cause. Males should avoid soy milk, soy based protein shakes, infant males should NOT be fed soy based baby formula, which is banned in England because of its tendencies to create hormonal imbalance in boys. Soy producers and promoters will argue on this point, but if several European countries have mandated a law against soy in infant formula I personally believe there is credibility.

On this topic, Body Logic write, "Breast enlargement in men often occurs after the age of 50 and is frequently associated with andropause. Andropause causes testosterone levels to drop, which leaves less of the hormone available to balance out the estrogen. Increased estrogen production and severe hyperthyroidism can also cause the gynecomastia. Enlarged male breasts are more likely to occur in overweight men due to the effects that obesity has on the body. Furthermore, weight gain is also a symptom of andropause, so it is not uncommon for a man to experience both concurrently."

After reviewing environmental causes (lotions, exposure to pesticides, fertilizers, etc) for estrogen influx in the body, removing them; and diet has been addressed in attempts to bring hormones into balance and reduce enlarged breasts in males, bHRT may be considered.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is the non-drug remedy, and to me, is the common sense approach. The Natural Progesterone Advisory Network provides a list of progesterone creams that the non-biased group has tested to be USP certified, absorbable and provides 20 mgs/dose.  Men over age 50 typically apply 5-10 mg of progesterone per dose. For men,  a USP certified progesterone cream that comes with a pre-metered pump, allows men to quickly apply without having to think too hard about the amount needed.

To your health,
Rita S.

Statins Deplete CoQ10

In the past couple of years I have learned a lot about statin drugs - one of the greatest money makers for Big Pharma. I read once that the numbers acceptable for cholesterol show a  history of being dropped through the years as it was realized what a big business it was to prescribe.
Coinciding with the introduction of statin drugs, and increase in liberal prescriptions being doled out - was/is a steady increase in elderly having memory loss.  Why is this, we might ask... to explain it, today I am simply going to cut and paste from my e-news bulletin from Dr. Joe Mercola. I highly encourage you to subscribe to his e-news and it will give you the ability to search his site for a number of health related issues - from GMO to parabens, toxic baby care products to the benefits of short bursts of cardiac exercise.
Here is what he writes today:

One in four Americans over the age of 45 are now taking a statin drug, despite the fact that there are over 900 studies proving their adverse effects, which run the gamut from muscle problems to diabetes and increased cancer risk.

Statins deplete your body of CoQ10, which can have devastating results. If you take statin drugs without taking CoQ10, your health is at serious risk. If you have symptoms of statin damage such as muscle pain, take anywhere from 200 to 500 mg of CoQ10 or ubiquinol, which is the reduced form. Ubiquinol is the recommended form if you’re over the age of 25. For preventative use, take around 100-200 mg.

Statins also impair the function of all sterols, including cholesterol and vitamin D (which is similar to cholesterol and is produced from cholesterol in your skin), all your sex hormones, cortisone, the dolichols, which are involved in keeping the membranes inside your cells healthy

Odds are greater than 100 to 1 that if you're taking a statin, you don't really need it. The ONLY subgroup that might benefit are those born with a genetic defect called familial hypercholesterolemia, as this makes them resistant to traditional measures of normalizing cholesterol.

Statins are in fact classified as a "pregnancy Category X medication"iv; meaning, it causes serious birth defects, and should NEVER be used by a woman who is pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

What do you think? Safe? Beneficial? I think not.  Everyone gets to make a choice, but I am glad my husband chose to change his diet, take beneficial supplements, and got off the cholesterol meds. When we become empty nesters I want him to know who I am, and still be able to identify the bird calls and species that he is so skilled at.  Bird watching is something that has, in large part, been put on hold, but an activity that brought us together over 20 years ago and something we would very much like to do, and travel doing it to see some more exotic species, when we retire.
To your health,
Rita S.

Thyroid and the Iodine Bully

Thyroid disorders are at an all-time high – and iodine deficiency is the TOP reason. Contrary to what you may believe, iodine, an essential mineral, is not prevalent in our foods – unless you are eating a lot of raw sea weed and algae.

The iodine you do consume is likely being blocked by iodine inhibitors present in your processed food and even your hygiene. Per the Women’s Health Institute of Texas, “Iodine is fairly easily displaced from your body by toxins called toxic halides… fluoride, bromine and chloride.

Fluoride is by far the worst culprit. Found in toothpaste and in your water supply, every time you take a shower, brush your teeth or drink from the tap, your body gets a little exposure to fluoride, leeching out good iodine. And contrary to popular belief, fluoridated water is actually rather poor at preventing tooth decay.
Why is it in our water supply? Poor science combined with corporate greed and political ignorance paved the way. Basically a toxic by-product of aluminum production, fluoridation was sold as a way to prevent cavities because some areas with natural fluoride in the water also had lower instances of tooth decay. Based upon that spurious observation, fluoridation began. ^29 30 
Then there’s bromine, an endocrine disruptor that competes for the same receptors that capture iodine. Essentially, bromine crowds out iodine.
How prevalent is bromine? Consider this, every time you bite into a piece of store bought bread, you’re probably ingesting some bromine. It’s used to make bread dough more elastic and thus easier to handle, but not by very much.”

The article goes on to site products containing bromine…in addition to store bought bread, your citrus flavored drinks (including Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Sun Drop, Squirt, Fresca), hair dyes, medicines (such as Atrovent Inhaler, Atrovent Nasal Spray, Pro-Banthine for ulcers, and anesthesia agents), pesticides, pastas (for the same reason it is used in bread dough I suppose) toothpaste, mouthwash, fire retardant fabrics, swimming pools, hot tubs, and even your car.  (crazy, huh?) Be aware that bromine may be used in the very same spa you go to to detox – now is that counterproductive, or what?! In addition, plastics – such as those used to make computers, contain bromine…ha, guess what I am typing on?!

Bromine is a natural element…which again, reiterates that just because something is natural does not mean it is good for you…mineral oil and glutamate are tops on my mental list.

Dr. Joe Mercola states in an article on the same topic: “methyl bromide is used as a pesticide predominantly on California strawberries; Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) is used in citrus drinks to help suspend the flavoring, and potassium bromate is used as a dough conditioner in bakery goods and pastas.”

Mercola goes on to describe - Bromine as The Bully of the Halide Group. “When you ingest or absorb bromine, it displaces iodine, and this iodine deficiency leads to an increased risk for cancer of the breast, thyroid gland, ovary and prostate -- cancers that we see at alarmingly high rates today. This phenomenon is significant enough to have been given its own name -- the Bromide Dominance Theory. Aside from its effects on your endocrine glands, bromine is toxic in and of itself. Bromide   builds up in your central nervous system and results in many problems. It is a central nervous system depressant and can trigger a number of psychological symptoms such as acute paranoia and other psychotic symptoms.”  

http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/bromidedominancetheory.html

Our body is full of receptors – this is something I have learned over the past two years. Just as an abundance of estrogen creates a hormone imbalance, taking over progesterone receptors, essential minerals do the same thing. Bromine and iodine compete for receptors, and it seems that bromine wins – preventing iodine from being absorbed and used by your very important thyroid gland.

If this is not reason enough to read labels and take heed – bromine and iodine deficiency is also linked to breast cancer and other cancers.

Chlorine is also on the halide list, an endocrine disruptor. As we gear up for summer and swimming pool season – my family will utilize the knowledgeable staff at Patio Pleasures, in Madison for their “green” pool option to chlorinated chemicals.

If you are struggling with weight gain, especially mid-section, in all likelihood there is a hormone imbalance – thyroid is a hormone just as is estrogen and progesterone – and all work together. Progesterone is, in fact, a precursor to the thyroid hormone. If you are deficient on both progesterone and thyroid – yikes, problems may be forthcoming!

Bromine not only decreases iodine receptors, it also INCREASES ESTROGEN reception and DECREASES PROGESTERONE receptors. Goodness, in my mind this makes it all the more dangerous as an ingredient and ranks right up there with petro-chemicals!

I hope today’s post helps you become more aware of environmental factors affecting your health. How to counter the underactive thyroid epidemic? Try to greatly reduce the foods and products mentioned above. My family claimed victory to find a bread that is not made with high fructose corn syrup – and now, it looks like we will have to look for the B ingredient on the label. Personally, I am happy to have written bread primarily out of my life!

 If your hormones are out of balance (you can find plenty of articles in this blog that discuss this in further detail – search for “hormone”), find a doctor, or  health practitioner experienced in BIO-IDENTICAL hormone therapy.

Of course, consume iodine (but remember, avoid the bromine or your body won’t utilize the iodine as needed) – use a Celtic or Himalayan sea salt containing iodine and known for its healing properties (I have found amazon.com to offer these salts reasonably), and look for dietary supplementation containing iodine. Our family, both adults and kids, utilize a daily power pack of vitamins containing iodine with a high rate of bio-availability (10,000 ORAC), and as well – our vegan, pea based protein powder also contains iodine.

Readers of my blog…what do you think after reading this? I don’t know if you find this helpful information, or if it makes you think one can’t enjoy food and life for fear of ingredients.  Let me make it clear – we don’t lose sleep over this. We simply took action – we have found brands that are pure and safe, we have our grocery shopping list fine-tuned with the research behind . We enjoy eating as much as the next family  – and feel great because of our choices.  It may take a bit to get started, but as my husband said this evening after his first bike ride of the season, “it feels great to climb a hill with ease that would have “killed me” a year ago”.  This man has probably not had a "workout" since the last biking season - and he did not lose breath or run out of energy! Purely living is a lifestyle, and it makes life great to live!

To your health,

Rita S.

Enlarged Thyroid- To Biopsy or Not?

I want to share a testimony from one of my clients this past weekend - it made me so HAPPY to hear it and fires my passion for my health and wellness business even more.

A few months ago a friend had an enlarged thyroid gland, blood count was high - they wanted to do a biopsy, of course. She wanted to hold off and do some research (smart gal) although she was pretty upset and scared about it. She ...asked my thought - and my thoughts turned to the book I have on thyroid and iodine by Dr. David Brownstein: "Iodine, Why You Need It And Why You Can't Live Without It" and "Overcoming Thyroid Disorders". (the latter available on video as well)

Per Brownstein, everyone with a thyroid issue is deficient in iodine. I have seen this affirmed in newsletters by Dr. Russel Blaylock, Jonathon Wright and more. Of course I told my friend, "I'm not a doctor, but if it were me I would increase my transdermal progesterone Prolief cream and take an iodine supplement" - and gave her my book and thyroid video.

Thyroid disorders has reached epidemic proportions in this country. I would propose that 1 in 5 women I meet at a home party/workshop have hypothyroid. Most are on medication. All have gained weight - as a properly functioning thyroid is essential for metabolism. The number of people I meet with this problem is CRAZY!

For many the meds are not working, which in large part has to do with an individuals ability to process the hormone/thyroid drug being given for conversion. Brownstein is an advocate of natural pig thyroid hormone. Armour is popular and it was his first choice for years, but in one of his 2011 newsletters I recall reading that the drug company who makes Armour changed formulations and it does not work as well as it had for a number of people, and he is recommending another. Something to be aware of...  You may find more at his web site

Brownstein also has a book out on the Miracle of Natural Hormones, but thus far the BEST books I have read on hormone balance and bHRT are by Dr. John Lee/Hopkins/Zava - the "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About....(series)" and Dr. Michael Platt's "Miracle of Bio-Identical Hormones" - which is a book that can give hope to anyone with a severe disorder or life threatening depression, obesity, adrenal fatigue, ADD/ADHD, auto immune and more.  You can find these books both at your library and on line at amazon.com

Back to my friend, I don't recall if she consulted the naturopath I recommended. She started putting PROLIEF cream directly on her enlarged thyroid 3x daily, switched to the Celtic sea salt I had bought and shared, and used an iodine supplement as well. In one month the enlarged thyroid returned to normal and new blood tests revealed all was well too. Happy ending. Peace of mind.

It just goes to show that self-educaon is important, as it gives us confidence to not be rushed into an invasive procedure. My greatest concern with a biopsy is that the chances of the needle hitting a cell that might actually have cancer in it, could then cause that cancer to spread, as I am recall from one of Blaylock's newsletters. I actually found a report on a study on this subject - it is a worthy read: The Moss Report.

A glimpse into a paragraph, "A June 2004 report from the John Wayne Cancer Institute in California has rekindled a long-standing debate over whether or not needle biopsies are safe. The paper set out to examine whether this technique, widely used to obtain specimens in cases of suspected cancer, might itself allow malignant cells to spread from an isolated tumor to nearby lymph nodes. The authors reluctantly conclude that a needle biopsy may indeed increase the spread of the disease by 50 percent compared to patients who receive the more traditional excisional biopsies (or "lumpectomies").

Self-educate for your own health and well -being readers! It can make all the difference in quality of life and longevity, if that is something you desire.

 

To your health,

Rita S.

What's In Your Health Drink?

In a few days I will be sharing a talk on taking care of your liver - or more importantly, loving on your liver. We each only have one. The liver is the body's filtering system. Just as you would not let your furnace filter get totally clogged, nor would you want the city water treatment plant to not be operating to par - we need to ensure the filtering system that God created for our bodies - the LIVER, is loved on and not taxed, which leads to disease and illness.
Come to learn more on Sunday at Crossroads Coffeehouse from 3-5 pm as we kick of a community group - Vitality 2012.

Today is a couple thoughts about beverages...now, I am referring to health drinks. Not soda, and not even energy drinks, as both are the opposite of health drinks.
This is a complete cut and paste, and wish I could remember from whom I found this - but I do believe it was Dr. Mercola's web site although I JUST downloaded 4 Myths- Sick, Tired, Fat by Dr. Kresser (another web site I just subscribed to) and he reiterates the same thing.
------------------------------
4 health drinks to avoid

Here are 4 of the top so-called "healthy" offenders:
NUMBER 1: 100% "Natural" fruit juice
Surprised?
Ok. Yes. Fruit juice is a better choice than drinking fake high-fructose corn syrup juice … but … it's still a truck-load of calories per ounce of liquid.
On top of that, it has almost all of the blood sugar regulating fiber stripped out of the fruit—this means the natural fruit sugars will trigger insulin surges and send your blood sugar soaring into the diabetic range!
NOT what you want at all.
This is a BIG one because most parents think fruit juice is a "healthy" choice for their children … but … the science shows it's definitely not.
In a study* of 4 to 12 year old children researchers from Deakin University found children who drank more than two glasses (500ml) of fruit juice/drinks per day were more likely to be overweight or obese.
"These odds increased as the amounts of fruit juice/drink consumed increased," Dr Sanigorski said. "Children who drank more than three glasses of soft drink (three quarters of a litre/750ml) or 4 glasses of fruit juice/drinks (1 litre) on the day in question were more than twice as likely to be overweight or obese compared with children who did not drink these drinks."
So the best thing to do is keep fruit juices far out of the hands of our children.
But it's not just the kids who fall prey to these health wrecking Trojan horses—adults fall for it too!
In fact, one particular juice is extremely dangerous for ANY man to consume …
Can you guess what it is?
100% Pure Orange Juice.
Why?
Orange Juice is rich in IRON … which is potentially toxic if your blood levels become too high.
The reason men have to worry about consuming too much orange juice (as little as two big glasses each day) is because we men don't menstruate each month … … And that means we lack an efficient method of clearing excess iron from our blood each month.
Yes.
The "healthy" glass of orange juice you're having at breakfast not only spikes your insulin levels into diabetic ranges (which … along with your energy … will come plummeting down later in the morning) …
… But if you're a man it can also be loading your body with a potentially dangerous heavy metal.
Not good.
So with all this in mind …
It's a much better idea to EAT fruit the way nature intended, with all of the fiber intact, and use a whole foods base multi-vitamin/antioxidant supplement to get enough of the super-nutrients contained in fruit juice.
Let's move onward …

NUMBER 2: Soy Milk
This used to be an often recommended "healthy" alternative to milk …
The truth is:
Most soy products these days are heavily processed with little nutrient density… and … this includes most soy milk you see at the grocery store.
Without question, most soy milk has become too sugary and is controlled by the same food and beverage giants that are still manufacturing and marketing other products that promote degenerative disease.
What's more: high levels of soy consumption have been linked with un-naturally high levels of estrogen production in both men and women …
For men this is death to your sex drive, decreased sperm production and could cause problems such as gynecomastia (abnormal enlargement of men's breasts) …
… For women, even though estrogen is considered a "female sex hormone" … like most anything … too much of it is also bad.
Estrogen dominance has been linked to thyroid disruption, a host of autoimmune diseases and some research questions the connection to hormone sensitive cancers such as breast cancer.
Your best bet? Just avoid it.
And whatever you do, if you are raising a small child, do not feed your child soy-based breast milk replacement products …
… Hopefully, the potential dangers of this commonly accepted practice are evident now.
That said, not all soy is bad …
The only soy based food I have found that is in it's fairly natural state is edamame (green vegetable soypods found at most high-end Japanese restaurants).
Keep in mind I still eat it VERY rarely if I'm dining out or added to a healthy stir fry using walnut, macadamia nut or grapeseed oil.
Speaking of dining out … here's one to REALLY avoid …

NUMBER 3: Crappuccinos
Ok, I mean Cappuccino, but I'm really referring to those high priced gourmet coffee drinks.
While black coffee can help you burn fat because the caffeine content gives your metabolism a slight boost, these tempting coffee calorie hogs can hide up to 1,000 calories!
In one drink!
YES … you are correct … that's insane!
Still craving one of these gourmet coffee drinks?
You can make your own fat-burning version pretty easily:
You'll start by spooning sugar-free, nonfat vanilla yogurt in an ice cube tray and freezing it into cubes overnight.
Then you'll add them to a blender with a splash of organic fat-free milk, a teaspoon of instant coffee crystals, and a scoop of natural vanilla or chocolate whey protein powder.
Lastly, just sprinkle on some cinnamon to add a little fat-burning kick. If you want to cut down on the caffeine, just use decaffeinated instant coffee instead.
This will taste so good that you'll swear it isn't good for you, but it definitely is … and … it's much lower calories than those commercial brands!
Plus, the added protein will give your metabolism a good nudge and help to power your muscles throughout the day.
And last but not least, here is …

NUMBER 4: Zero Calorie Flavored Waters
The good news is these are 0 calories.
That's where the good news stops though …
… most of these still use questionable artificial sweeteners which have been shown to inhibit fat burning, increase appetite, and block the absorption of nutrients into your body in a variety of studies.
Don't be too bummed out though…
A couple of 0 cal flavored drinks use the all-natural stevia plant as a sweetener, include Zevia (a stevia based soft drink), and the 0 cal varieties of Sobe Lifewater for example.
So your best bet?
If you need a little more taste than water every once in a while—look for one of the brands I just mentioned …
… Or … you could always squeeze some lemon in water and maybe add a natural sweetener like stevia to satisfy your taste buds.
So now that you know some top diet drink disasters to avoid … and … you know a few good alternatives to popular "health" drinks.
----------------
I hope you found that information helpful. Today, for the first time ever I drank more than half my body weight in ounces! I drank a 32 oz bottle of body cleansing solution mixed with water and was done by 10 am! I then managed two more 32 oz bottles during the day. At bible study I drank a large mug of detox tea, and two protein shakes. I should be floating!

I do feel more skinny and my pants are loose - celebrating my little moment in the spotlight as the top person in a privage Biggest Loser challene I am a part of.

to your health!
Rita S.

Healthy New Year - Part 2

Optimal Nutrition for Fat Loss
Excerpted from an e-blast by Dr. Mercola...
It is important to understand that 80 percent of your ability to reduce excess body fat is determined by what you eat, with the other 20 percent related to exercise and other healthy lifestyle habits.
The greatest pitfall of the American diet that prevents untold millions from reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is excess fructose consumption. It's the number one source of calories in the US, and this ingredient, primarily in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), hides in so many processed foods and beverages, it can be near impossible to avoid unless you alter your shopping and cooking habits. By avoiding processed foods in general, and focusing instead on whole, preferably locally-grown organic foods, you can plow your way through one of the greatest dietary obstacles there is today.
Next, you'll want to pay close attention to your consumption of grains (including organic ones) as they too readily break down into sugar, and promote insulin resistance and retention of body fat.
Following is a quick summary of Mercola's basic recommendations, which pretty much looks like the 30 day detox program I plan to start on January 1st:
· Limit your fructose to less than 25 grams per day. Ideally, you'll also want to limit the amount of fructose from fruit to 15 grams per day, as you're likely consuming 'hidden' fructose if you eat even small amounts of processed foods or sweetened beverages
· Limit or eliminate all processed foods
· Eliminate all gluten, and highly allergenic foods from your diet
· Eat organic foods whenever possible, preferably locally-grown
· Eat at least one-third of your food uncooked (raw), or as much as you can manage
· Increase the amount of fresh vegetables in your diet
· Avoid artificial sweeteners of all kinds
· Swap all trans fats (vegetable oils, margarine etc.) for healthful fats like raw grass-fed organic butter or coconut oil
· To re-balance your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, take a high-quality omega-3 supplement, such as krill oil, and reduce your consumption of processed omega-6 fats from vegetable oils (trans fats) (I use a very high quality vegan Omega 3 supplement that utilizes flax and chia seed oils)
· Drink plenty of pure water
· Optimize your vitamin D levels, either through appropriate sun exposure, a safe tanning bed (I don't agree with tanning beds), or a vitamin D3 supplement (if you are vegan and wish for a vegan D supplement, the source will have to vitamin D2, which, when formulated correctly is very absorbable, such as the calcium/D supplementation I take. Quality of vitamin supplementation is especially key in Vitamin D)

I hope you find this list helpful. It has very much become my mantra in in enjoying a healthier lifestyle. I didn't follow the plan of a renowned, or not so well known doctor, a highly publicized fad diet such as Atkins or South Beach, but in general...absorbed information from various health newsletters and utilized my new knowledge, common sense, and scriptural references to foods we should eat...and the result was a much healthier me!

To your health,
Rita

Fructose - A Sweet Surprise

Today I received an email from Newsmax, publishers of the Blaylock Wellness Report that I often cite here. A product called Slimtevia is being offered, which sounds like a super replacement for sugar.
If you have tried Stevia, you may associate this all natural sweetener, alternative to sugar, as having a slightly bitter aftertaste. The company who is offering Slimtevia has found that the tiniest bit of fructose helps to offset the bitterness, making a sweetener that so mimics sugar that it is guaranteed that you won't be able to tell the difference.
Their explanation of fructose, in my opinion, was stellar...and I thought I would share this with you today. Basically, this is a cut and paste...I cannot take credit for the information as it comes from the makers of Slimtevia.
Here are some surprising health facts about fructose you may not know...Won’t spike blood sugar. While both table sugar and HFCS cause sharp spikes in blood sugar levels, fructose does not produce this effect.
Lowest GI of all sugars. Fructose has the lowest glycemic load and Glycemic Index (GI) rating of all natural sugars (GI is a measure of how quickly a food affects blood sugar). Pure glucose has a GI value of 100. HFCS ranks at 73. Table sugar weighs in at 65. Honey has a GI of 55. Skim milk is 31. And fructose is a very low 19.
Good for bad blood sugar. Because it does not cause surges and dips in blood glucose levels, small amounts of fructose are actually considered beneficial to people with blood sugar disorders. (Studies show that fructose consumed before a meal can lessen the total rise in blood glucose levels after eating. Click here to see the research.)
Doesn’t trigger insulin. Fructose is often recommended for people with diabetes because it does not trigger the production of insulin when consumed in small amounts.
Actually decreases blood sugar. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers found that in small doses, fructose actually LOWERS blood glucose -- and it was more effective at doing so in people who had poor glucose tolerance.
Satisfies hunger longer. Consuming fructose instead of glucose results in lower circulating levels of leptin (the hormone responsible for appetite), and elevated levels of ghrelin (the hormone which governs hunger satisfaction).
Less is more. Fructose is twice as sweet as sugar and HFCS.This means you need far less fructose to achieve the same level of sweetness. Result? Fewer calories of fructose achieve the same “sweetness satisfaction” as real sugar.

I admit, after reading this, I had an "ah ha" moment as I now understand why my favorite AB protein shake uses a trace amount of fructose, along with the stevia, as the natural sweetener. Now, when people express concern that fructose is on the ingredient list, I can assure them it is a good thing.

To your health!
Rita S.

Malnutrition is linked to obesity

If your body doesn't get the nutrition it needs it goes on the defensive, this may sound weird, but true. Dieting and cutting calories drastically doesn't work. If you truly want to lose weight you have to give your body the nutrients it needs to survive. If you do not, it thinks it is "starving" and every ounce of fat you have will be retained "for the famine ahead."
What you eat is more important than how much you eat. On my journey to lose 85 lbs., I never once counted calories, checked for carb grams, or tallied points. It was a change of mindset that warranted my success. Now, I did not count calories, but DID read labels. I watched for chemicals that retain fat on the body - such as glutamates (MSG), saccharin, aspartame; and those that spiked insulin production thereby storing fat - sugars, simple carbs, high fructose corn syrup.
It was important to detox my liver with an alkaline based detox derived from sea algae - as a dysfunctioning liver does not properly digest and utilize food, and can be a blame for weight gain. (This is a topic in itself.)
Today, I want to share the importance of taking a QUALITY multi-vitamin. Now, I do have friends who don't believe in vitamins - they claim to get all they need from whole foods. Interestingly enough, all the doctors whose health publications I read are pro-vitamin people. Dr. Russel Blaylock and Dr. Mercola state that U.S. soils are so depleted of nutrients that the whole foods, the spinach, greens, vegetables and fruits we depend on for beneficial nutrients, do not have the same nutrition-packed power as produce of the early 1900s. Dr. Peter Matravers states one would need to consume 5500 calories per day to get all the needed nutrients. Now, I know I could personally not consume that much - I am not physical enough to eat 5500 calories without becoming obese. One of my friends that is all about whole foods - is a daily "power athlete", as I would describe her ...and she can burn all that.
I want to share a post by Dr. Mark Hyman, whose blog you may want to subscribe to. He states, "Overwhelming basic science and experimental data support the use of nutritional supplements for the prevention of disease and the support of optimal health." Supplementation SAVES you money when you spend less on co-pays to the doctors office, Rx, OTC drugs - and health alone is worth its weight in gold, which many of us never realize until it is gone.
He provoides great insight, AND links to studies to back up his article, on the importance of quality vitamins, check it out.
Note that he stresses QUALITY vitamins, as I have in past posts. ORAC value is important. Dr. Peter Matravers says, “it’s not how much you eat but how much you absorb”.
ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity and is an indicator of a substance's ability to absorb (stabilize) radical oxygen molecules in the body that are responsible for many different types of cellular damage.
The vitamins my husband and I use have an ORAC value of 10,000 - which makes them a potent anti-oxidant part of our nutritional plan.
Often I am asked how much my vitamin has of this or that. Let's take calcium as an example. My vitamin brand has 600 mg of calcium citrate.
When someone makes a comment that they need to take 800 mg of calcium a day I ask what the ORAC value is of the supplement they are currently using. If they do not know I ask them to inquire, and explain: For any supplement to be labeled standard process it has to have a minimum ORAC value of 4000. What this means, is that non standardized supplements available from over the counter department store brands have an ORAC value less than 4000. Which supplement would you absorb more calcium from? 600 mgs of calcium citrate at an ORAC value of 10,000, OR 800 mgs of calcium with an ORAC value of 2000, or 400, or even 150, which is not uncommon in inexpensive supplements.
Make sense? You truly get what you pay for, and often people are flushing their hard earned dollars with inexpensive brands. Since we have been taking our essential vitamins daily, we have become a healthy family. Because our family nutrition includes multi-vitamins, vegan Omega 3s and other individually geared supplements, our metabolism is healthier, which results in healthier poeple.
2011 has been a great year for us. Our garden did well, and we may expand it this coming year. We expect to feel even more great in 2012 as we continue to explore whole food nutrition, cook creatively without convenience of malnourishing processed foods, and shop more from local farmers. We are fortunate to have several within a few short miles from our home that sell direct. CSAs are becoming more abundant, be sure to look one up in your area!
Lastly, I am booking into January for "New Year, New You" classes. Are you already considering a 2012 weight loss resolution? Are you confused by calorie counting, carbs, point systems, and label reading? This is my passion and I would be happy to share how I successfully lost 85 lbs. by doing only one of those things...label reading. Contact me to book your class for January, or jump start yet this December by booking a class the evenings of December 27, 28 or 30th!

To your health,
Rita S.

Colon Cancer Prevention - Part 2

Yesterday I started a post about colon cancer, and included what studies have found to be causes of the “silent killer”. It is the second most deadly cancer, and my goal today is to help give you ideas on how you might prevent colon cancer through some lifestyle changes. We never appreciate our health until it is gone, so take the information below to heart, and put some thought and reflection into your current lifestyle – are you living to live well?

I utilized a number of sources in pulling together these suggestions – some of it may be old news, some may be new. Here’s to regularity:
1. Fiber Intake  It’s no secret that the American diet lacks fiber. How many of us consume 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, as recommended? One serving equals one cup of fresh fruit, or a tennis ball sized piece of fresh fruit, or ¼ c. of dried fruit. Blaylock recommends blenderizing your vegetables. I have found that I can toss frozen cauliflower, broccoli or fresh kale and spinach into my vanilla protein shake, with strawberries, and not even taste the “greenies”.

It is recommended to consume 25-35 grams of fiber per day. One source states women can consume on the low end, and men should be on the high end of that figure. I add 12 grams of soluable Fiber Boost to my protein shake each morning, and actually, since I started putting this article together a few weeks ago I am adding in a bit more. Blaylock does state that all fiber supplements are not necessarily beneficial, and one should look for “resistant starches”. He recommends fiber sources from apple, citrus and lentil peas. Apparently, the pectin from these sources and other fruits, when fermented in the colon produce butyrate, which is vital to the health of the cells lining the colon.

2. Probiotics/Prebiotics/Enzymes A number of studies indicate the importance of healthy gut flora in reducing the risk of colon cancer. Unfortunately, when we take anti-biotics we are killing off our good gut flora as well as the bad. Since our body does not replace probiotics we need to supplement to do so, and find a source that includes a robust strain with prebiotics so it can actually pass through the stomach wall and get into the intestines to do its job. In addition to probiotics and prebiotics, digestive enzymes diminish as we age, and it is important to replace them. A lack of enzymes results in esophageal reflux, and an excess of undigested food in the colon, which increases colon cancer risk.

 3. Omega 3s – studies have shown that a high intake of Omega 3 fats substantially lowers colon cancer risk. The type of fats we consume have a great impact on our chances of developing cancer. Blaylock’s report states that studies have shown that omega-6 fats (corn, soybean, safflower, sunflower, peanut, and canola oils) dramatically increase the risk of colon cancer, and turn existing cancer cells into very aggressive, metastasizing cancers. Blaylock goes on to state that this is evident in all cancers. Americans consume 50% more Omega 6 than are needed for good health. (Considering that almost all processed foods contain Omega 6 this should not come as a surprise, should it?) I have done some research on the vegan (non-animal) Omega 3 oils in the supplement that I take: flax seed oil, chia seed oil and more...the more I learned about chia seed and its benefits the more impressed I became. What I do know for certain is our Omega 3s helped my husband get off his statin drugs and our joints feel better as well. Omega 3s are necessary for heart, brain, joint health, as well as cancer prevention. It is the single most important supplement you can take in addition to a QUALITY multi-vitamins. (one a day types don't cut it folks!)

4. MODERATE Exercise – walking weight resistance training, raking the leaves and mowing the lawn are all good forms of exercise. Highly aerobic exercise, per doctors Lee and Blaylock, increase the free radicals and peroxidation in your body, and neither doctor recommends it. Aerobic activity increases prolonged increases in metabolism – a process which is a major source of these harmful chemicals. Lee had discussed this in further detail in his book about breast cancer, stating that cancer survivors who compete in triathalons and climb mountains are doing themselves more harm than good.

5. Diet – Avoid processed foods. Learn to read labels – which scream “Good Source of Fiber” only to be laden with refined carbohyrdrates and fats, which are highly inflammatory.  High fructose corn syrup and MSG abounds in processed foods...contributors to cancer and brain and heart related diseases.
Avoid most vegetable oils – known as omega 6 (N-6). These include corn, safflower, soybean, sunflower, peanut and canola. While Omega 6 are needed for health, most people consume 50x more than as needed (common ingredient in processed foods). Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Coconut Oil should be the oils of choice in the “cancer prevention focused kitchen”. If you cook with EVOO sprinkle turmeric and other spices in the oil, and it prevents oxidation. (I like that last tip!)

Avoid these fish – no matter what due to heavy contamination: shark, swordfish, tilefish, and large tuna.

Red meat in moderation – The biggest issue with red meat is the high iron content, which Blaylock labels “a cancer fertilizer”. Iron dramatically increases free radical generation which fuels cancer growth. Note that it is important to avoid supplements with IRON, as we Americans usually don’t have trouble getting enough iron in our diet, but we often have too much. Dr. Graham Colditz of the Washington University School of Medicine, as well as other experts, state to limit red meat to no more than 3, 3 oz. servings per week. So if you go out to dinner on Saturday night and have a 10 oz. sirloin - you have had your week’s consumption of red meat!

6. Metal toxicity – fluoride, aluminum and mercury are three metals that promote cancer, and Dr. Blaylock states they are very toxic to cells, especially brain cells. Black tea, soy milk, processed meats and processed cheese are high sources of aluminum and fluoride in foods. Mercury comes from fish, dental amalgram, and vaccines. I think we’d be surprised to learn of all things we absorb trace metals from, and it is impossible to avoid it 100%. Keep in mind that although the FDA stamps its approval on many things, and manufacturers will state that amounts are too small to be harmful, trace metals in particular are fat soluable. Basically, these toxins build up as they store inside our bodies. For this reason, I really do believe it is beneficial to detoxify at least once every 3 mo. I use SeaSource 7 Day detox which cleanses and removes trace metals from my essential organs, and is gentle as well. If I had cancer, I would be detoxing every month, especially because of the effects of traditional cancer treatment.
For a healthful life it would seem all of the recommendations above would be beneficial life practices to incorporate for a lifestyle of wellness.
To your health!
Rita S.

Colon Cancer Prevention – Part 1

Colon cancer makes me nervous…not only is it coined “the silent killer”, but according to the American Cancer Society it is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. (Moving up from third place in 2007.) Some of my family members have had concerns which keeps this cancer gnawing at the back of my mind. I have been reading quite a bit about this particular cancer, and am taking the stance of prevention for myself.

Dr. Robert Russell of Tufts University School of Medicine states that one half the risk of colon cancer is diet related. Changing one’s diet can significantly reduce the risk. I thought I would share some of the steps I have learned one can take to hopefully avoid Colon Cancer. By the time I finished reading from my various sources, this blog post became so long that I feel I must break it up in to two parts.

So first, some thoughts on causes….

Hormones? In many cases, colon cancer arises from what is known as a polyp, a growth in the colon. I have suspected for a year now that colon cancer could be related to hormones. Afterall, if excess estrogen causes cysts in the ovaries, fibroids in the breast, and enlarged prostrate – all forms of excess cell growth, it makes sense to me that excess estrogen also causes the growth of a polyp. I am still researching this and finding some who substantiate these thoughts, but not finding enough affirmation to say “it is so”. Still, I think it is worth mentioning, because let’s face it…we don’t want those other forms of cancers either, do we? I am a believer in the benefits of using a bio-identical progesterone cream that counters excess estrogen in the body.
UPDATE NOTE OCT. 2011 - In reading Dr. Michael Platt's book - The Miracle of Bio-Identical Hormones, he also concurs and adds colon cancer to the list of cancers in which too much of the estrogen hormone and too little progesterone play a part. I have increased my Prolief progesterone cream usage upon hearing this.
Inflammatory Diet: Dr. Russell Blaylock states, “As with all cancers, chronic inflammation and free radical generation are the ultimate causes.” Those with inflammatory bowel conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease,and Type 2 Diabetes, the latter of which results in high levels of free radicals in the body, have high association with colon cancer risk.”

Lack of Sunshine? Studies show that those who live in the northeastern portion of the U.S. have higher incidence than those who live in the south. Why is this? Vitamin D3 deficiency. Studies show that vitamin D3 inhibits many types of cancer, including colorectal cancers. How do you get your D3 – spend 15 min. a day out in the sun without sunscreen! Tanning bed users beware…it is not the same thing!

Calcium deficiency is another mineral shown to dramatically reduce colon cancer. However, per Dr. Blaylock, don’t replace your water intake with milk (which substantially increases the risk of prostrate cancer, and even heart attacks). The almond milk I drink every morning in my yellow pea, brown rice and cranberry based protein drink contains 45% of the daily recommended allowance for calcium, as compared to 30% for skim milk. Also, a calcium supplement (look for calcium citrate for absorbability) that also contains Vitamin D and Magnesium necessary for the body to utilize the calcium, would be supportive in colon cancer prevention. I was in Costco and noted the highly marketable chocolate chew form of a calcium supplement (geared towards women of course, who usually take a calcium supplement when older) and I noticed that the product did not contain magnesium. So yes, it may taste good, but your body would not be able to make use of the calcium without magnesium present. Most Americans also have a magnesium deficiency, which is a greater problem than we realize.
I have a Calcium Plus product that contains all of these nutrients, and the ORAC value is 10,000! (Which means the actual absorption of the product is phenomenal!
Okay, so now we know we need some sunshine, avoid inflammatory foods (wheat, gluten, and dairy are especially inflammatory), eat vegetables rich in calcium, or supplement, and strive to balance our hormones, either with diet or utilizing bio-identical supplementation (which is not the same as HRT by any means! If you have been reading this blog a while you are aware, and if not, check the topic cloud at the upper right to learn more.) What else can we do to help thwart the “silent killer”? Check the next post for some specifics on prevention.
To your health,
Rita S.

Are Wrinkles and Osteoporosis Related?

An e-blast from Dr. Andrew Weil today cites a study in which researches are analyzing data on a possible correlation between wrinkles and bone loss. The group of 114 women were involved in a study analyzing the effectiveness of HRT, and from that study derived an associate study in which bone mineral density was recorded as well as the number and direction of wrinkles on their face. Investigators found that the more wrinkles a woman had, the lower the bone density was likely to be.
The report stated that the greater the number of horizontal and vertical lines between the eyes (from squinting) , the lower the bone density was to likely be in the hip. (Well, of course you know what I did when I read that…I ran right into the bathroom to look in the mirror – whew! No wrinkles!!) On the plus side, the fewer wrinkles a woman has on her face and forehead, the stronger their bones at the hip and spine, the study showed. These findings may turn out to be particularly meaningful if future studies determine the same outcome, and it could help doctors be alerted to potential osteoporosis by examining a women’s skin.
When I read about this study it reminded me of other studies that have been done, showing an increase in bone mineral density for women using bio-identical progesterone cream. Progesterone BUILDS bone mass, whereas estrogen prevents further loss. Again – progesterone BUILDS BMD – this is very important to know because most often doctors will prescribe a form of estrogen or synthetic estrogen when a woman is diagnosed with osteoporosis. Estrogen only stops bone loss, of which there already may have been a significant amount. Use of progesterone, on the other hand, can actually rebuild bone mass, according to the studies, reported in Dr. John Lee’s book, “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause”. Click here for some links to articles by Lee on osteoporosis: http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/osteoporosisleadin.html
Another positive benefit of natural progesterone cream for the older generation (and nowadays, even the young as I read obits of people in their 20s dying from stroke!) are studies showing the aid it provides for stroke victims. http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/progesterone_stroke.html
Applying a topical progesterone cream to the forehead apparently helps brain cells repair more quickly. This makes me wonder if studies are being done to examine the benefits of progesterone for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, and I do believe I have read some about this as well. It makes sense to me, afterall, our brains contain more progesterone than any other part of our body, other than the uterus when a woman is pregnant. It makes sense that a drop in progesterone levels would affect brain function.
Today I read in the news that long time country singer, Glen Campbell, (I grew up with his music in our home!) has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the early stages. My first thought when I read this was to wonder if he had been on statin drugs for high cholesterol…if I were a betting gal, I would put money on it. Vitamin deficiency is another cause, in particular the B vitamins, which are critical for repairing brain DNA. (I am so glad my husband no longer needs statin drugs and we were able to lower his cholesterol numbers through diet and vitamin supplementation.)
Sorry, I digress…diseases that affect the brain are an entirely different topic; but wait, that’s not true! Osteoporosis and brain function share a commonality in the need for balanced hormones and diet in order to avoid both of these disabling diseases. A separate report also shows that estrogen can negatively affect the brain as it is an excitotoxin in excess. So I question…if estrogen supplements are prescribed to a woman to stop bone loss, and they are not given progesterone to maintain balance (which would also increase bone density) – then aren’t these women more susceptible to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s? It seems so – check this report http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/brainonhormones.html
I have a relative in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, and having learned this, I have a need to know if she was ever on Rx for bone loss and if so, what it may have been (PremPro, for instance).
Mr. Campbell will always be my Rhinestone Cowboy! I wish him the best and pray that as well as top medical doctors, his family is also seeking counsel from a doctor who is practicing alternative or holistic medicine. I am confident, with all the studies being done in holistic medicine, that early stages could be kept to just that, and even reversed? I just read about success with this shortly after I typed this thread initially. Who knows for sure? I must say, when I apply my Prolief progesterone cream, alternating the places on my body in which I apply it as directed, I do feel some confidence in knowing that when I apply it to my forehead (as in Dr. Bean's instructions) that I am perhaps helping my brain repair cells and hopefully preventing possible health issues down the road.
Interesting information to think about today, don't you agree?

To your health!
Rita S.

Is It Allergy Season Yet?

All the buds and flowers are gone from our flowering trees, because it is, of course, June! A friend of ours stopped by to request some help of my husband, and I asked why he did not bring his wife along - who I adore and love to be with. Unfortunately, she was home with terrible allergies and medicating.
It was then I realized...allergy season? Wow, my family had totally missed it!! A year ago our son's eyes would be red and watery, itchy, and he'd be going through boxes of tissue like no tomorrow! My husband, as well, would be checking the pollen count on the web each day and dealing with a less severe form of spring allergies. But not this spring, thus the only way we knew it was allergy season was by others complaining about it!
Since the new year our family has been taking Essentials supplements - 5 various tablets for Jesse and myself, and a cherry chew free of artificial flavors and color for the kids. I had blogged earlier about one huge benefit - NO MORE SNORING, which makes everyone in the household sleep well. If Jesse or I forget to take our vitamins, that very night reveals a day of missed supplements. My husband takes his vitamins at night - which is testimony to how quickly the benefits of Essentials are absorbed into the system. Last week a few days were missed, and I pretty much handed the pack of vitamins to him as I  needed sound sleep. He took them about 8 p.m. and a solid night's sleep was had by all - since I did not need to poke and say "could you roll to your side please?" I don't know of any other vitamin that has an ORAC value of 10,000. Do you know the ORAC value of your supplement? You could just be wasting your money if the product is not actually being absorbed and utilized.
What makes Essentials work so well?  I have studied, and continue to study, vitamin and mineral supplements pretty extensively. Essetntials offers a number of anti-inflammatory minerals - such as Selenium, which is also a major anti-cancer benefit per doctors Blaylock, Lee and Mercola in their newsletters. If you consider what is taking place in the sinus passages during allergy season - INFLAMMATION - it totally makes sense that Daily Essentials are helping people to breathe easier, during allergy season as well as bringing relief to those, such as myself, who had sinsus issues 365 days a year prior to taking Essentials.

To your health!
Rita S.

It's All About Who You Are Being

“Be. Do. Have. Who you are being leads to the things you do, and what you eventually have… You have to change your way of being in order to make permanent changes in any area of your life.” - Dr. Jamie Fettig from the book The Creator’s Manual for Your Body.
Our bodies are quite the miraculous works! Only a divine Creator could conjure up a complete system that heals itself…in a perfect world. But we do not live in a perfect world, far from it. Yes, we can blame Adam and Eve, but perhaps in this modern day we need to also blame progress, convenience, and the desire to be some place else five minutes ago.
I guess you could call it progress when it was discovered that monosodium glutamate was discovered in Japanese POW rations in WWII, which made their rations much better tasting than that of our own GIs. A message was quickly sent off to some government organization that made sure all food manufacturers were informed they could sell more food if they added MSG to make it taste better, and they did. MSG has been making us unhealthy, and is linked to the huge increase in the number of ADD and ADHD diagnosis ever since. Studies show that MSG additives make one have a preference for high-carb foods. No wonder obesity is at an all time high - I would love to see Michelle Obama "take up arms" to ban MSG as it would do more good than getting kids off the couch.
Our diet foods, labeled “low fat” and “healthy” have chemicals in them to make you crave more food. How can you lose weight if your brain is being triggered to eat? Oh yes my friends, those of you eating processed yogurt touted by a certain actress in commercials, or a much loved Y brand, may have you fooled into thinking you are eating healthy. Even granola and "health food" bars, and energy drinks, are laden with high fructose corn syrup.
Perhaps worst of all is ESTROGEN. I have blogged about this before and encourage you to check out the “hormone” tag in the topic cloud at right. I became aware of estrogen added to our foods as growth hormones, and xenoestrogens being added to our bodies through lotions, body oils, facial creams (in the forms of mineral oil, petrolatum and other petroleum based additives), and more, exactly one year ago today. I began researching the word xenoestrogen, reading books and articles. Not only did I learn that estrogen (both bio-identical and xeno) in excess causes 80% of all breast cancers, but I also learned that estrogen STORES FAT! To top it off, I just learned last week that food dyes found in many, many grocery products are petroleum based. What are we? Humans or car?!
Wow! The more I learn the more peace I find in changes I have made. The skin care products with petroleum based additives were thrown out a year ago. We began grocery shopping around the OUTSIDE of the grocery store vs. center aisles, and reduced the number of products entering our home that come in boxes, cans and cartons of one type or another. I began using Prolief bio-identical progesterone (which is the happy hormone that BURNS fat cells) cream to help bring my body back into balance. In a nutshell, I changed my way of being in order to make a permanent change in my life.
Now I can breathe easy, even when I bend over to tie my shoes. My knees don’t ache. People ask, “do you have lots more energy”, and I have to say that I have always been a high energy person. As long as there are tasks to be done I just keep on ticking. But I will also say that it is a different type of energy – it is a HAPPY ENERGY!! I have never felt so good in my entire life. It is different from my mid-20s when I worked out six days a week. I did that because I had to to get into and stay in shape.
I eat a hormonally balanced diet, and as my husband and I budget we are surprised to see how much less we spend when processed foods are not purchased, and we make meals "from scratch", which does not mean difficult and fancy. When I can I walk, and will bike as the weather warms – because I LOVE to do those activities. I take supplements because I cannot consume the 5000 calories a day that would be necessary for me to get all my vitamins and minerals…unless I want to push 300 on the scale again, and I am not going there EVER again!
I knew I had to BEcome healthy if I wanted to be around for my family, without being a burden, years from now.
I had to DO whatever it took to get there, and quite honestly, once I made up my mind it was not that hard. I only had to vision where my life would end up if I did NOT make a change.
Now I HAVE health and feel more blessed than I ever have in my entire life. I am blessed to have discovered Arbonne and thank my friend Brenda for introducing me not only to the opportunity, but to the great products that helped change my life.
Be. Do. Have. I know you can do it. God made a body designed to be a magnificent creation as long as we fuel it with the foods He intended for us, and not the foods the food industry would like us to consume. Learn to read labels. Be. Do. Have.

To your health!
Rita S.