YOUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

Fighting High Blood Sugar?

Problems with your blood sugar?  Your body will fix a multitude of issues given the right ingredients!  Hands Down!!!  A low glycemic food program with HIGH nutrition is your answer.  Whole grains, veggies, foods in their NATURAL state and even most fruits have a low glycemic index.  The more natural and WHOLE the food your eating…the less problems you will have.  Processed foods are your enemy as they are everyones….  The more whole and natural your food, the harder and slower your body digest and assimilates…therefore your blood sugar is not raised as rapidly.

Make sure your bowels are eliminating regularly…that means at least ONCE every single day.

Stay moving for at least one hour every single day.

Stop eating FAKE, man made foods!

You’ll be on your way to no sugar problems….It’s up to YOU!

 

 

BRAIN POWER?

We all worry about forgetting things.  In today’s busy world…it happens more often than we want it to.  When you start putting your keys in the refrigerator….well, it’s TIME to start changing some things.  Now, I’m not saying I’ve left my keys in the frig BUT if I did….I’d be afraid…worse was on its way! 

What’s a girl or boy to do?  EXERCISE your brain.  Two little cells come together and this connection is called a synapes.  When that connection does not fire off as it should….our memories get weak and we forget more and more.  STOP THE MADNESS!

How do we exercise our brain?  Crossword puzzles are great.  I HATE them but they work.  Any type of puzzle that takes brain power.  How about learning a new language?  SOMETHING to keep your brain firing connections strong.  Learn something NEW every, single day! Learn a new cooking skill, a new dance step, read something that requires you to focus….but LEARN SOMETHING!

Which foods help you?  Walnuts…a handful a day.  OLIVE OIL – use it every day.  The Journal of Clincial Nutrition just stated that using OLIVE OIL every day gives us less chance of dying from ANYTHING.  How bout dose apples…????   Use COCONUT OIL often.  Our brains have lots of cholesterol in them.  These oils improve cognitive function.  So, eat up.  Magnesium Threonate crosses blood brain barrier so consider that supplement.

EAT good oils….Learn something new every single day and you are on the right road to always knowing where you left your keys…..

 

 

 

OSTEOPOROSIS

OSTEOPOROSIS is not a calcium deficiency disease; it is a disease of excessive calcium loss.  In other words, you can take all the calcium supplements you want but if your diet and life style choices are unhealthy or you’re taking prescription drugs that cause you to lose calcium, you will still lose more calcium from your bones than you can take in through diet.  Some good food choices for calcium are snow peas; broccoli; leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, and beet and turnip greens; almonds; figs; beans nonfat milk; yogurt; and cottage cheese.  Don’t depend on milk to get your calcium. Milk has poor calcium to magnesium ratio.  Magnesium deficiency may be more common in women with osteoporosis than calcium deficiency.  Good sources of magnesium are whole grains; wheat brain. Leafy green veggies, nuts (almonds best).  Make your food count for your body!

Help with Blood Pressure Issues

NUTRITION FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:

I always recommend buying your own cuff and taking blood pressure 3X day and averaging it.  Drugs treat the symptoms of high blood pressure which can be necessary in some cases but CURING the problem requires nutritional support and supplementation along with dietary and lifestyle changes.

1^st off:  WATER – almost all blood pressure meds mimic the effects of increased water intake. Drink 15 glasses a day if you have high blood pressure.  Yes, a lot but it helps to relax your arteries.  Quit the soft drinks and make water your drink of choice.   Eat POTASSIUM rich foods .  The higher your Potassium level, the lower your sodium level so google some high potassium foods (like bananas) and make sure they are part of your diet.  Fresh fruits and veggies will lower your blood pressure and take care of your body in many other healthy ways.  Eat cold water fish and/or take Omega 3 supplement.    FISH OIL is huge for lowering blood pressure.  MAGNESIUM GLUCONATE – less arterial tension because it also relaxes arteries.  It is Recommended to take 500-1000 milligrams a day divided into 3 doses. COQ10 like exercise for your arteries and it very important. Many with high Bp are deficient in this nutrient.  EXERCISE – get moving…no excuses…walk but do not become sedentary.  HIDDEN EMOTIONS huge cause….DEAL with it…Change what you can but release what you must! GARLIC – eat as much as you can fresh or supplement…2-3 cloves a day…friends may not like it but you will feel FANTASTIC!  J  Try this and monitor your blood pressure.   If you are holding onto bitterness, hatred and anger….not much will help in this area or any other.  SO….loosen up…forgive….enjoy life….embrace it!

Sleep and Neurobics

Restful sleep – How much sleep do you get per night? Its value to human health and proper functioning is without question and is essential to both the body and mind.  Our bodies repair themselves while we sleep. Your first four hours of sleep is when we get the highest release of growth hormone which is responsible for lean body mass; thinning of skin and expansion of adipose (fat) tissues…so we MUST sleep well.  If your taking sleep medications..these can interrupt our dreams which are essential for healthy brain function.  Check out NEUROBICS – the latest in specific brain exercise.

More…..THYROID Imbalance

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:

• Apathy
• Attention deficit disorders
• Backs of hands turned forward
• Brain Fog
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Cold hands/feet (Barnes Test)
• Constant build up of wax in ears
• Delayed teething in children

Depression

• Drooping eyelid
• Dry; course skin, hair and nails
• Dull facial expression
• Fatigue
• Growth Retardation in children
• Hard time waking in the morning
• Headaches
• High Cholesterol problems
• Hoarse voice with slow speech
• Hyperlipidemia
• Intolerance to cold
• Lethargy
• Loss of hair in outer 1/3 eyebrow
• Menstrual disturbances
• Monopolar depression
• Muscle fatigue
• Palms of hands yellow
• Premature delivery in pregnancy
• Puffy face
• Short-term memory problems
• Sleeps easily but not rested upon waking
• Slow mental development
• Slow Pulse
• Tinnitus (Ringing of the ears)
• TSH levels high, but T3/T4 levels low
• Waking up with a headache
• Weight gain

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism:

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Bipolar Depression
• Diarrhea
• Eye pain
• Eyelid retraction (bulging eyes)
• Frequent bowel movements
• Goiter (enlarged thyroid)
• Increased activity
• Increased appetite w/ weight loss
• Increased vocalization (cats)
• Nervousness
• Palpitations
• Photophobia (sensitive to light)
• Sensitivity to heat
• Tachycardia (rapid heart beat)
• Tremors
• Warm, moist skin
• Widened pulse pressure (normal 120/80)

Things that adversely affect the Thyroid function:

• Aluminum (preservatives/antifungal)
• Autoimmune thyroid diseases:
  • Graves
  • Hashimoto’s
• Cadmium poisoning
• Caffeine
• Chakra imbalance (fifth)
• Chemicals and Xenobiotics
  • PCB’s from plastics
  • Hormones in food
  • Cosmetics
  • Phenolic Compounds
  • Styrofoam cups
  • Microwaved plastic wrap
  • Water bottles
• Drugs (SSRI Antidepressants)
• Electromagnetic radiation
  • Computers
  • Flying
  • TV’s
  • Appliances w/ LED lights
• Estrogen (too much)
• Exercise, too little
• Hormonal imbalances
• Iodine Excess (Coast Goiter Syndrome)
• Iodine deficiency
• Lack of morning exercise
• Lead poisoning
• Light, not enough sunshine
• Liver disease
• Mercury poisoning
• Opiates
• Pesticides
• Plant hormones (Estrogens)
• Raw Foods containing cyanogenic glycosides:
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Flax
  • Garlic
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Spinach
  • Turnips
• Raw foods that increase T4 clearance:
  • Soybeans
  • Walnuts
• Selenium Deficiency
• Smoking
• Stimulants
• Sugar
• Sunshine-lack of (slows Thyroid)
• Surgery
• Tyrosine Deficiency
• Zinc Deficiency

Notes on things that affect the Thyroid Gland Function:

Bipolar depression is exhibited as the thyroid hormone drives energy levels beyond the physical limits of the body.

Lithium, a common treatment for manic-depression, is known to depress T3 in the brain bringing the levels back to normal.

Long-term stress leads to autoimmune disease because stress decreases the production of Natural Killer cells.  Two examples of this are Hashimoto and Grave’s diseases. This in turn increases food sensitivities and environmental sensitivities. Ashwaganda, and Ayurvedic herb, is an herb that helps manage stress by decreasing cortisol levels.

Hashimoto’s Disease is an autoimmune induced thyroid disease caused by the body’s own antibodies attacking the thyroid gland. When you provide the system with a thyroid supplement (protomorphogens like MediHerb Thyroid Complex), the antibodies will attack the supplement first allowing the thyroid gland to heal itself. The thyroid supplement acts as a decoy for the antibodies.

Grave’s disease is an autoimmune induced thyroid disease caused when the body’s own antibodies block conversion of T4 to T3.

Caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants increase the cortisol released from the adrenal glands in the body. When this happens the cortisol block the conversion of T4 to T3 so causes hypothyroidism.

Smoking depresses the thyroid gland from producing thyroid hormone and adrenal hormones. This is why it can be a factor in hypothyroidism.

Alcohol or opiates can increase T3 levels in the body by preventing the breakdown of t# in the brain, so in hypothyroidism alcohol can act as a mood elevator. Alcohol gives these patients a mood-elevator buzz. At the same time, alcohol is causing the liver to be stressed and toxic which disturbs the metabolism of all kinds of hormones over the long-term. By keeping the T3 levels high in the system this suppresses the Thyroid Hormone (TH) being released from the brain. One result of this is that the liver starts producing more cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides. Alcohol also hurts the liver over time enough to prevent it from storing the fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin A. Because of this, Vitamin A (carotenoids) can build up in the body and shows up in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet as yellowing.

So when you smoke and drink, you are really doing a double-whammy on your thyroid gland. It’s so hard to quit because of the hormonal imbalances that these products cause. Some think that this is why smoking and alcohol are so addictive.

Iodine deficiency is the second major cause of hypothyroidism. The first cause of iodine deficiency is diet. So why not eat fortified table salt? Well, these kinds of salts are highly processed. All the natural minerals are extracted leaving only Sodium, Chloride and Iodine in inorganic form, which is not bioavailable. The body will use it if there is nothing else. The thyroid gland will store this iodine until it needs it, but it doesn’t use inorganic forms as efficiently and effectively as organic forms.  To get around this problem, use Celtic Sea Salt, which comes from the ocean, is not refined, is gray, moist and is surrounded by organic “Mother Liquor”.

High consumption of raw soy products (soymilk, soy cheese, soy yogurt, and soy flour in protein drinks), flaxseed, and corn products all have cyanogenic glycosides in them. These plants produce natural goitrogens. Cooking and fermentation disables these goitrogens by breaking down the phytate components.

Phytates are the mineral blocking product of the food making the calcium, magnesium, manganese and copper unavailable. In the East, where they use soy, they always cook it. Americans are finding more ways to use uncooked soy products and it shows by the amount of thyroid disease we are generating.

Note: Cooking does not breakdown cyanogenic glycoside in corn syrup and corn syrup seems to be hidden in everything these days. Also, sugar of any kind is also known to suppress the immune system for several hours after it has been consumed.

Soymilk is especially bad for babies. If they can’t have regular milk, use 75% Goats milk plus 25% Carrot juice (to replace folic acid, which is low in Goat’s milk) as a wholesome, complete milk and formula substitute.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is thyroid-linked or pineal gland linked. It responds well to St. John’s Wort or foods high in tyrosine (sesame seeds, raw egg yolk).

Environmental Hazards affecting Thyroid Function:

Electromagnetic Radiation: Computers, appliances with LED lights, and airplane trips generate stress on the body by their damaging electromagnetic fields (EMF’s). One 10-hour flight @ 33,000 feet exposes the body to the same level of radiation as one chest x-ray with no protection.

Use Eleutherococcus (Siberian Ginseng) herb to protect against radiation. Siberian Ginseng is a wonderful adrenal tonic herb as well. Start out with 5ml extract per day or 4 tabs/day for one week before your trip. Note: There are other forms of Ginseng, but they do different things. Get Siberian for this purpose.

Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salts) also protects the body against EMF’s and radiation exposure. It turns into a fine white powder when it has absorbed all that it can. You can place some inside a seat cushion and carry the cushion on the plane with you in your carry-on bag. Sit on it during your trip.

Heavy metal toxicity (lead, mercury, cadmium) and EMF’s suppress the endocrine system, alter the RBC (red blood cell) and WBC (white blood cell) counts and cause uniform hair loss.

PCB’s, hormones in food, cosmetics, and phenolic compounds increase anti-thyroid antibodies in the system so inhibit thyroid hormone activity and iodine metabolism. These factors, coupled with increased, prolonged stress leads to Hashimoto’s and Grave’s diseases as well.

Note: Children are very susceptible to these things as their bodies are smaller and they can’t handle as much as a human. They are getting the same amount of PCB’s from drinking out of Styrofoam cups and water bottles as an adult, only it hurts them more.

Excerpts from Dr. Denise Moffat

THYROID IMBALANCE – NEEDS A LITTLE TLC

Statistics and Facts:

• Thyroid disease is one of the most common hormonal disorders.
• Hypothyroidism has been called the “great imitator” because      of the vast number of medical conditions thyroid conditions can mimic.
• An estimated 13 million Americans are affected by thyroid disease.
• More than half of the people with thyroid disease are      unaware they have it.
• Thyroid disease affect 8 times more women as it does      men
• The mid-west is called the “goiter belt” because the      soil there is so deficient in Iodine.

What does the thyroid gland do?

The thyroid gland converts food into energy and heat by modulating carbohydrates, proteins, fat metabolism, vitamin utilization, mitochondrial function, digestive process, muscle and nerve activity, blood flow, oxygen utilization hormone secretion, sexual and reproductive health, and more.

The pituitary, hypothalamus in the brain are responsible for the regulation of how much thyroid hormone should be produced for the body. Heavy metals can attach to the hypothalamus and pituitary and cause a communication problem as to how much thyroid hormone should be available.

We need to have lots of zinc, selenium and iodine in our diets to produce the enzymes that convert T4 to T3.

Sugar leads to binding of the thyroid hormone making it unavailable to the body (hypothyroidism results).

Copper, mercury, and lead will block zinc absorption. This is why it’s important to detect and get rid of any heavy metals in the body.

Lifestyle Changes to Support Thyroid Disorders:

• Exercise, increase
• Keep neck area warm
• Manage Stress
• Sugar elimination
• Sun Box (Full Spectrum Lights)
• Sunshine/Full-Spectrum lights
• Throat Chakra- Speak your truth
• Turn thumbs forward
• Warm compresses to thyroid area

Excerpts from Dr. Denise Moffatt

REMEMBER….eating whole, nutrient dense foods is always the cornerstone of healing.  ANTI-inflammatory foods do not come in packages. Add spices to your cooking, use TURMERIC and GINGER and use CELTIC SALT to get your body back in balance…..An IMBALANCE can be corrected!

DIABETES Type 1

DIABETES (Type1) about 5-10 Percent of people with Diabetes has Type 1

Conventional Doctors believe Type I Diabetes is a classic example of an autoimmune disease.  That our system mistakenly identifies part of the body as an outside invader and attacks itself with substances called antibodies.  Conventional Medicine believes that insulin dependent diabetes occurs because the immune system kills the cells of the pancreas which is the organ that produces insulin, which takes blood sugar out of the bloodstream and into the cells of the body…since Type 1 typically begins in childhood…hence a lifetime of insulin dependency.

Some Alternative Doctors believe radically different:  There are THREE diet related steps they believe can help not only prevent but treat this disease.   (I will sum these up)

COWS MILK:   AVOID at all cost. They believe some have an intense allergic reaction to cow’s milk and the antibodies created during that allergic reaction also “cross-react” with the islet cells of the pancreas, destroying them.

GLUTEN: (Likely Suspect) found in wheat, rye, oats, barley and other grains. (Buckwheat, rice and corn are the exceptions). Gluten can trigger another heredity allergic condition called CELIAC DISEASE, a severe intestinal illness.  Certain human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are associated with celiac disease and the development of Type 1 diabetes.  Steer clear of gluten in your diet and even gluten containing ingredients like distilled white vinegar, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and malt extract.  Lots of great cookbooks out there for gluten free foods!

NIACINAMIDE: To the Rescue~~~  One of the B Vitamins is the number one nutrient for treating Type 1 diabetes to rescue pancreatic islet cells and restore more function to the pancreas.

Also…did you know you can EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO LESS INSULIN? People with Type 1 diabetes who exercise for 35-40 minutes 4 or 4 times a week may be able to cut their insulin needs by 20-25 percent.  Fewer insulin shots means less wear and tear on injection sites.  Try brisk walking, swimming, some strength training, stretching, dancing but get moving!

NOTE:  You should use the alternative remedies only as part of your treatment program that is guided and monitored by a qualified medical doctor with a qualified alternative practitioner, both of whom are experienced in caring for your condition.  Diabetes symptoms include: frequent urination, increased appetite and thirst, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, decreased consciousness and you should see a doctor if you experience these symptoms.

Alternative Cures…Bill Gottlieb

 

SINUSITIS

SINUSITIS: Nasal congestion, pressure or pain in your sinus area, headaches, yellow-green discharge…UGH…it’s ON!

Miserable indeed!  I used to suffer with this terribly!  I stopped drinking cow’s milk years ago and have rarely had a problem since. Dairy creates mucus!

Eucalyptus will help relieve congestion.  Inhaling hot steam with this thins the mucus in your sinuses so it can get OUT! Eucalyptus essential oil has powerful antimicrobial property.  Peppermint oil can also help.  Try about 1 ½ quarts boiling water with 5 drops of eucalyptus and 2 drops peppermint oil.  Carefully pour boiling water into heatproof bowl and add oils.  Cover with towel tent over your head and breathe in the steam for about 10 minutes.  Be careful…don’t burn yourself.  Try this a couple times a day.

BEST EVER—-To ease pain and encourage drainage of mucus…use HOT AND COLD PACKS alternately.  Freeze a cloth in refrig and heat one in the microwave.  Alternate each for about 3 minutes each and end up with the cold pack. You won’t believe how much relief you get! You can also add eucalyptus oil to the hot pack.  Can do this several times a day as needed.

To prevent and strengthen immunity…take Echinacea and garlic.

Remember….fluids will help loosen mucus so stay hydrated.  Sip broths with garlic in them. Drink plenty of pure water and hot herbal teas.

 

ARTHRITIS

ARTHRITIS:

Inflammation of the joints and cartilage that can hit us most anywhere in our bodies, especially around our joints.  Pain and Stiffness in our joints that totally HURT!  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that affects people of all ages and is thought to be an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack itself. Fatigue, low grade fevers, depressions, swollen, disfigured joints are all a part of RA.

1) 1^st step is to make sure that don’t have a food allergy.  Many with these problems do. Try eliminating the most common food allergens like wheat, corn, beef, and dairy.  Also avoid nightshade foods like tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers for a couple weeks to see if it makes a difference for you.

2) Stop eating any saturated animal fats and eliminate all polyunsaturated hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils from your diet. This will relieve inflammation.  START eating healthy fatty acids like olive oils, flax seeds oils, coconut oils, eating cold water fish like salmon, sardines, and herring and add walnuts to your diet.  Consider supplementation with a good Omega 3 source.

3) Take in more CAYENNE PEPPER and use a Cayenne cream to relieve pain.  Look for Capsaicin in your ingredients for your cream.

4) Add GINGER and TURMERIC to your diet as often as you can to relieve inflammation.  They totally WORK. Make yourself a couple fresh ginger teas each day and cook with Turmeric.  Slice about 10 thin slices of fresh ginger root in a cup of hot water…sip and enjoy…add honey if you need to.  Consider supplementation as well.

5)  Take a hot bath with eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils to ease painful, still joints.  Add 5 drops of each to a bathtub of hot water and soak for 15 minutes.

6) STAY MOBILE.  Keep moving.  GENTLE exercise is a must for you. No less than 30 minutes every day even if you have to break it up in 10-15 minutes increments. Make sure you include STRETCHING every single day.  Stretch and hold for a few seconds.  STAY limber!

7) Consider regular massage to increase circulation and ease pain.  Begin to experiment with REFLEXOLOGY….great beginner books out there.  Learn how it can ease pain and stimulate the body.

Drinks lots of water, release any anger and unforgiveness …..and your body will begin to heal.

CANDIDA

CANDIDA:

Vaginal itching, irritation, inflammation, white discharge? Yeast infections typically caused by an overgrowth of Candida Albicans, FUNGI that normally inhabit the vagina.  This weakness is generally caused by too much stress, HIGH SUGAR diet or hormonal fluctuations which will upset the normal acidic balance of the vagina.

You can actually STARVE the fungi if you stop eating SUGAR and REFINED FOODS.  Taking PRO-biotics like Lactobacillus acidophilus, one with each meal for one month will help replenish the healthy intestinal flora.

Avoid tight fitting clothing AND synthetic underwear. Don’t use scented toilet paper, deodorant tampons or scented pads or deodorant soaps.  They have chemicals that will dry out sensitive vaginal tissue.

A strong herbal rinse made with 1 ½ cups boiling water; 2 teaspoons dried thyme; 1 teaspoon dried rosemary and 1 teaspoon dried sage is another great infection fighter. Its antimicrobial properties stop the overgrowth of the fungi and the astringent properties soothe irritated tissues.  Pour the water over the herbs, cover and steep for 20 minutes.  Strain and use as vaginal rinse twice daily.

Clean up your diet by removing sugar and processed foods, add the pro-biotics , stop using scented products and using the herbal rinse as needed should bring relief and in the long run destroy Candida.