Delete the Fear

Does it feel like FEAR is overtaking the planet? I know you've heard this acronym before, but it's good to remember. F-E-A-R is always created by False Evidence Appearing Real. I'm not crying 'false media.' Not at all. They are reporting what they see. We need to ask, 'Is what they see real?' 

This applies to so many things - the list is too long to copy here. So let's take one thing - the corona virus.  Did you know that more people die from the common flu every year than have died from this new virus? Did you also know that only a minority of those who contract this virus actually get very ill? Also, those who do get seriously ill are those with already compromised immune systems. Exactly what happens with the flu. 

What compromises your immune system? 

• Stress

• Anxiety

• Fear (hmm... fear causes you to get more easily sick which causes more fear...)

• Trauma

• Conditions you already have because of the above. (heart disease, auto-immune disease, etc)

1. Meditation - I know, you've tried it, too hard.... What if it is easier than you believe? What if only 5 minutes a day of getting into that drifting place is all you need? True! I can help with that . 

1. Move! And make that movement FUN! Forget the 'no pain, no gain' mantra and do something that lights you up. Play baseball, dance, swim, run around with your kids... I invite you to join me on Monday nights for Line Dancing. We are having a blast. Contact me for more info. 

1. Feed your body well. This gets sticky for some of you - so many Points of View out there. We do know the basics - lots of color on your plate, avoid sugar, most should also avoid gluten as it's very inflammatory, take a good multi vitamin  for so many reasons. if you want more exact info on what your body wants, look at my Guided Nutrition reading. 

1. Sleep. Sleep is not a luxury. Sleep is an absolute necessity, and we are talking 7-9 hours a night. This can be broken into segments if necessary. 

1. Essential Oils - Such a quick and easy way to change your body's vibration and boost your immune system. They are the Earth's gift of healing. You can start simple and go as far as you like. I offer education on this if you are interested. Bi-Monthly chats on zoom, private classes, and more. I recommend everyone have the OnGuard products on hand for when any infection gets into the house. 

1. Finally - My work is all about helping you delete emotional energy that is no longer serving you. The services are varied and you can find out more here. What would you life look like if you could easily get rid of stress? 

I hope you see the pattern here. Delete Stress, Fear, Anxiety, Emotions from Trauma, and you quickly boost your immune system. 

Would you like some tools to help with that? Great. Here goes.
I hope you realize after reading this far that YOU have the POWER to stay healthy. I am hear as a guide to help you remember how powerful you are. 

Sending you lots of love and light. 
Mary

Up All Night: How Your Mattress Can Affect Your Sleep... and Health

There’s no such thing as the perfect mattress. Nighttime comfort is an individual preference. It’s uncommon for two people who share the same bed to want the same things in their sleep zone. Comfort aside, there are plenty of ways a bad mattress is a universal health hazard. Keep reading for a few quick tips on how the eight hours you spend in bed at night can negatively impact your well-being 24/7.

Signs of a mattress gone bad

●       Snoring. Some people just snore, but others develop this intrusive habit over time when sleeping on an unsupportive mattress. Sleep Number explains that even weight distribution can minimize the effects of snoring. In addition to lacking support, an old mattress is a haven for dust, which can linger in dry air and can amplify these midnight roars. A humidifier will keep the air moist, which can reduce snoring. Change the filter regularly to ensure your humidifier continues to operate properly, which will also lower pollutants in the air.

●       Back pain. A low-quality or past-its-prime mattress can lead to back pain by changing your spinal alignment little by little each night. When your mattress wears out, it becomes a concave structure instead of the flat sleeping surface you need.

●       Bed bugs. Bed bugs are tiny little bloodsuckers that like to hide in your mattress. An old mattress is the ideal habitat for these alarmingly tick-like creatures. They are difficult and expensive to get rid of; the most effective way to control an infestation is to simply buy a new mattress and box spring. One surefire sign of overnight bed bug contact is small bite marks on exposed skin that may be itchy and resemble a rash. MedicineNet Medical Author Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, explains that bites on the hands, neck, and face are common.

●       Impaired memory. Poor sleep is undeniably linked to impaired memory, information retention, and overall cognition. Even if you think you’re sleeping through the night, failure to cycle through all stages of sleep can leave you struggling to remember even the most familiar and repetitive aspects of your day.

●       Dust mites. Unlike bed bugs, dust mites don’t turn into tiny Draculas (Draculi?) at night, but they do feed on flaked-off flesh. No matter how clean your home is, you have dust mites. While these arachnids aren’t dangerous in a normal quantity, an old mattress can be home to them in numbers you don’t want to see. Too many, and they can become an allergy issue and trigger upper respiratory distress, especially in children and those with a sensitivity to airborne particles.

●       Weight gain. Here’s a fun fact: poor sleep can contribute to weight gain. There are a number of reasons, including a change in your hormone production and craving more sugary foods. When the brain isn’t rested, it is more susceptible to impulse, meaning that midnight bowl of cereal you usually bypass makes more sense than an apple. Sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus touches on more ways that sleep deprivation and weight gain are connected. When it’s time to invest in a new mattress, make sure to find one that suits your sleep preferences. If you share a bed, an adjustable mattress can help you and your partner settle in and wind down.

Buying a new mattress is one of the most effective ways to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep, but it’s not the only factor. Eat a balanced diet, get enough exercise, and pay attention to your health. 

Image by Pixabay

Guest author ~ Dylan Foster http://healthwellwise.com

Ward Off the Winter Blues

The earth leans toward deep, dark space. Shadows lengthen, and the sun travels reluctantly across the sky, sinking into the horizon long before most people are ready to bid its rays goodbye.

Many people grumble at early darkness and shorter days. The American Family Physician website says that about four to six percent of people suffer from winter depression, and another 10 to 20 percent may have mild seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

What is SAD?

Seasonal affective disorder is caused by a sensitivity that results from a lack of sunlight. Shorter winter days disrupt your body’s clock and fool your brain into producing less serotonin. But SAD’s more than just a temporary funk. Its symptoms appear in late fall or early winter and, like clockwork, disappear during spring and summer’s sunny days.

While SAD’s exact cause remains unknown, doctors have identified certain factors that can bring it on. Reduced exposure to natural light can:

●       Disrupt your body’s circadian rhythm, or internal clock.

●       Cause a drop in serotonin, and reduced production can trigger depression.

●       Unbalance your body’s level of melatonin, another neurotransmitter that directly influences sleep patterns and mood.

This disorder was first identified, in 1984, by Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D. His research also indicated that women between age 20 and 40 are twice as likely as men to receive a diagnosis possibly because estrogen and progesterone, more prevalent in women, may be connected to SAD. The Mayo Clinic has identified other risk factors that may predispose someone to SAD that include:

●       Family history

●       A diagnosis of major depression or bipolar disorder

●       Living far from the equator

Don’t hibernate!

Bears escape the winter drear by hunkering down in their caves until spring warmth coaxes them into the sunlight. But bears were built to hibernate—humans weren’t!

Mental health professionals and other experts suggest these solutions for getting a mental health boost and beating the winter blues.

●       Exercise. Take a walk outside in the sunlight and burn a few calories while you’re enjoying the sunshine. Exercising for just 10 minutes a day helps stave off SAD’s effects. Play basketball with friends at a community center or gym. Turn up the tunes and challenge your kids to a dance-off or host a nightly dance party to celebrate finishing the day’s homework.

●       Listen to music. A University of Missouri research study concluded that listening to upbeat music helps to make you happy. Banish the ballads and update your playlist with some toe-tappin’ tunes because cheerful music will improve your mood.

●       Volunteer. When depression turns your focus inward, it’s hard to escape that rut. Try turning your focus outward. If you’re not sure what organizations in your community need help, search for some at volunteermatch.org. You can also offer to assist in your child’s classroom.

●       Redecorate. Brighten your home with lighter paint on the walls. Hang mirrors to reflect the light. Rearrange your furniture so it’s facing the windows. Banish heavy curtains and opt for lighter, more translucent fabrics.

●       Travel. Schedule a trip to a warm, sunny location. You’ll want to escape for at least a week to get the full benefit of sunshine therapy.

●       Meditate. Meditation provides a wide variety of benefits, and practicing body mindfulness or yoga creates a sense of calm and works as a natural antidepressant.

●       Socialize. Spend time with friends and loved ones to help keep your mood elevated. If you tend to hide during the winter, ask your friends to find you and drag you out into the world.

●       Light therapy. If your SAD is more severe, your doctor may recommend using a light-therapy box for 30-45 minutes a day. These boxes emit artificial light that helps to compensate for a lack of natural light.

When the winter blues strikes, don’t hesitate to try different solutions to see what benefits you the most. Make time to take care of yourself by eating healthy meals (and a little chocolate!), reading a good book, spending time with friends, or doing whatever makes you happy.

Author

Kimberly Hayes enjoys writing about health and wellness and created PublicHealthAlert.info to help keep the public informed about the latest developments in popular health issues and concerns. In addition to studying to become a crisis intervention counselor, Kimberly is hard at work on her new book, which discusses the ins and outs of alternative addiction treatments.

Photo credit: Pexels

A Taste Of Recovery

Guest post by Virgil Anderson 

If you suffer from cancer or mesothelioma, the importance of eating healthy cannot be overstressed. Focusing on consumption of vegetables and fruits can go a long way in helping to reduce the symptoms from cancer. The American Cancer Society strongly suggests eating a minimum of 2 ½ cups of these foods per day. Fruits and vegetables are typically low in calories and they are abundant in antioxidants, phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins. Typically, the foods with the greatest amount of color, such as orange, yellow, red and dark green, have the most vitamins and nutrients. In order to help reduce pain and other symptoms from cancer, you should try to consume a variety of vegetables and fruits each day.

If you are having a hard time trying to imagine what a ½ cup looks like, you should know that half a cup of fruit or vegetables is approximately the size of a half baseball. If you want to be really sure, you should of course use a measuring cup. Consuming 2 ½ cups of fruit and vegetables per day isn't very difficult at all when you take the time to space out your portions.

BREAKFAST

If you usually eat cereal for breakfast, consider slicing a banana across the top. Juice that you have in the morning will count towards fruit as well. Try to have unsweetened, low sodium vegetable or fruit juice. Four ounces of juice will equal half a cup. If you don't like cereal, you could have half a cup of frozen berries in a cup of low fat yogurt. This quick meal can be eaten at home with a banana sliced across the top or taking in the car if you are in a hurry to get to work. Taking these portions of fruit or vegetables means that you've already consumed one cup of your daily quota.

SNACK AT MID MORNING

Having a snack in the middle of the morning is an excellent way to sneak more vegetables or fruit into your body. A small orange, five or six baby carrots or a single serving container of applesauce will add another half cup to your quota. You're more than halfway there and it's only the middle of the morning.

LUNCH

If you need to have a quick lunch, you could have a wrap or pita sandwich with vegetables, or a cup of vegetable soup. Either of these will easily give you at least a half cup of veggies. If you have a small salad on the side, you'll be at more than two cups for the day!

DINNER

It's not at all hard to add some veggies to your dinner. Simply heat frozen or canned vegetables in the microwave to make a quick side dish or, if you want something tasty, microwave a sweet potato with a splash of apple juice, a teaspoon of butter and a light sprinkle of cinnamon or sugar. Congratulations! You've met your minimum requirement!

Additional health tips to help reduce your mesothelioma symptoms include avoiding tobacco products, getting plenty of exercise and keeping up with your doctors' appointments.

Sticky, Yucky Energy

What if changing your life could be as simple as taking a shower?

That's how I like to think of emotional clearing. Sometimes I tell my clients to get out the 'fire hose' when were dealing with a particularly sticky energy, but most of the time is just a 'brushing off' or 'sweeping out' or maybe a nice swish of cleansing water to wash away the energy we no longer need. (metaphorically that is)

Have you ever thought about how much energy you pick up every day that doesn't even belong to  you? If you were wading through that much muck all day and climbed into bed at night without taking a shower first, would your spouse divorce you?
Energy is kind of like that.

Imagine what it would feel like to walk in the door, after a long day working, and feel amazing. Light! Energized! Peaceful! Simply ask the energy "Who does this belong to?" You will hear an answer - the first thing that pops into your head is usually the answer. It's going to be a) someone else, b) something else like the Earth, or c) you.  If it's not you, ask that energy to "Return to sender with consciousness attached" because you do NOT need to keep it. It does not serve you. It's been said that over 90% of the emotions we feel are picked up somewhere and don't belong to us. Wouldn't it be nice to stop carrying your boss's anger, your co-worker's anxiety, and that person in the checkout lane at the grocery store was dumping fear all over you.

We are all energetic beings and we communicate through energy much more than we realize. If you would like to read an interesting point of view on this subject, read the book "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell. We are brilliant at perceiving energy whether we know it or not.

So try this tool for a couple of days. "Who does this anger belong to?" "Who does this resentment belong to?" "Return to sender with consciousness attached." (That's so they can recognize this energy as something they can also delete.) Use it all day for a week and see how you feel?

What if your life could get so much better and it could be simple? What would that be like? Anything is possible.

Be well,
Mary

For more on energy clearing visit http://www.thejoyofbeingwell.com. I can help you clear the deepest, darkest energies and step into the light.

Being There: A Story of Cancer Survival

(Guest article by Cameron von St. James)

I often go back to November 21st, 2005 when my wife and I faced something we never thought would happen. Heather was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. While I didn't know what to do at the time, I knew that I was no longer just a husband and father. I was also a caregiver for someone who had cancer. I couldn't believe that this diagnosis was happening to us, and it was especially difficult because our daughter was still just a newborn. We had only celebrated her birth three months prior to receiving the news.

In the doctor's office, I saw my family falling apart and the tears in my wife's eyes. It was a very hard moment that made me instantly understand what I had to do. I had to be there for my family no matter what. I had to make tough decisions and become a caregiver that would hold my wife's hand and heart along this difficult road. The doctor gave us some options for treatment. He suggested a few hospitals close by, but neither of these had a specialist in Heather’s form of cancer. That's what we needed. He knew of a specialist in Boston named Dr. David Sugarbaker. There was only one choice for my family. I said "Get us to Boston," and we began a long journey towards a healthy family.

The next few months after that were spent in havoc for me. It was a constant struggle to handle the newborn and care for my wife. It was all I could do to juggling the responsibilities of being a caregiver, while also holding down my job to keep us afloat through this whole process. The weight of everything plagued me from day to day, but I managed to work through it. I knew that I had to be strong for my family. No matter what I thought of at night trying to sleep, I had to believe that my wife was going to be okay and that somehow we would make it out okay.

It was around these dark days that some saving grace appeared. My wife's family had always been generous, but I really didn't know how to thank them at first for coming through and taking care of Lily. They also helped to pay off some of the medical bills and really provide a shelter for my troubled mind as well as my wife's recovering body. I will never forget what they did for us and how it changed my family's life.

My strongest advice to anyone going through their own cancer journey is to accept every offer of help that comes your way. I had to learn the hard way that there is no room for pride in a cancer battle. Once I accepted this, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders.

Over the following months, Heather would undergo mesothelioma surgery, chemotherapy and radiation in order to fight this terrible disease. Despite the odds against her, at the end of it all she came out alive, healthy and cancer free. She remains that way to this day, over seven years after her diagnosis. We now hope that by sharing our story, we can help inspire others in their own cancer journeys, to never give up hope and always keep fighting for the ones they love.

Cameron Von St. James
Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance
http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/cameron/

Where is Fructose Hiding?

Discover the fructose content of common foods, beverages, sauces, and even sugar substitutes in our infographic "Fructose Overload." Use the embed code to share it on your website.

Create a Sustainable Table

Change depends on every one of us. This is a great place to start. 

A Cure for all Cancers? Two simple foods.

Flaxseed Oil and Cottage Cheese – A Cure For All Cancers? – Amazing results reported for almost every type of cancer including many in Stage IV.
March 16th, 2010 | Author: Bob Reece

According to Bill Henderson and his book “Cancer Free”, one of the many alternative ways to cure cancer naturally is the effective and inexpensive treatment of flaxseed oil and cottage cheese.   The basis for that belief is based on Dr. Johanna Budwig, a German doctor and scientist, who in 1951 proposed that flaxseed oil and cottage cheese  (FO/CC) could readily cure cancer.  She went on to write numerous other books on that subject and was nominated for seven Nobel prizes.

The numbers of testimonies can be found for almost every type of cancer and tumors, including many in Stage IV, along with many examples of people declared terminally ill by orthodox medical practitioners.  There are also multitudes of case histories of terminally ill patients who began making almost immediate turnarounds and have lived for several decades.  Even more incredible is that Dr. Budwig herself claims to have saved patients who were within hours of dying.

Dr. Budwig’s formula is not only an effect treatment and preventative of cancer, but it is also  excellent for other illnesses such as strokes, cardiac infarction, irregular heartbeat, stomach ulcers, prostate (hypertopic), arthritis, eczema and all skin diseases, lupus, old age (improves many common afflictions), and immune deficiency syndromes such as multiple sclerosis.

Before going into the specifics of what makes this concoction so undeniably effective, I want to first refer readers back to an earlier article written by me and posted on my website called “The Real Cause of Cancer”.  It was about the incredibly simple discovery by Dr. Otto Warburg who won a Nobel prize in 1931 for discovering that not only is oxygen deficiency the prime cause of cancer, but that cancer cells are also anaerobic.

Anaerobic means the cancerous cells do not breathe oxygen like normal cells and therefore cannot survive in the presence of high levels of oxygen.  Conversely true is that cancer cells love sugar, flourish in an acidic environment and cannot survive in a balanced alkaline environment.

From there Dr. Budwig was able to determine that it is the absence of linoleic acids in the average Western diet that is responsible for the production of oxydase which induces cancer growth and is the cause of many other chronic disorders.  The next step was the realization that using oxygen in the body is an excellent way to eliminate cancer cells and that oxygen can be stimulated by protein compounds of sulphuric content.  These protein compounds make oils more water soluble and are found in cheeses, nuts, onion, garlic, and especially in cottage cheese.

So now let me discuss just why these two unlikely products are insignificant by themselves yet when combined, become a very unique recipe described as “far and away the most successful anti-cancer diet in the world” by Dan C. Roehm, M.D., FACP who is an oncologist and former cardiologist.

The simple answer is that flaxseed oil and cottage cheese are synergistic which means that one triggers the healthful properties of the other.  It is also true that cottage cheese loses all of it’s dairy properties such as casein and lactose, which enables those who are lactose intolerant to consume this mixture with no adverse affects.

Now for the ever-so- simple recipe that creates such amazing results.  Simply mix one-third cup of organic, low fat (1% or 2%) cottage cheese without preservatives, with 3 tablespoons of flaxseed oil.  This should be done twice daily or if you prefer, both batches may be taken at once.  Flaxseed oil has a very pleasant taste however I personally find cottage cheese an unpleasant experience so I prefer doing it twice daily.  And by the way, the FO/CC combination is also an exceptionally excellent cancer preventative.

To help make the mixture more palatable I would strongly suggest adding a couple of tablespoons full of blueberries, strawberries, or other fresh fruits, or even some almonds or walnuts – all of which are also good for fighting cancer by themselves.  I have even mixed in an occasional cup of organic yogurt – the kind with the fruit in the bottom.

That leads me to the issue that supplements and antioxidants are sometimes erroneously reported to be incompatible with FO/CC.  The source for this problem was Dr. Budwig herself when she gave an opinion along those lines, that they might unnecessary and interfere with the desired results.  It has since been confirmed there is absolutely no evidence, that there is any incompatibility, and since free radicals are a major source of damage to our cells, antioxidants are just as necessary as ever when taking this combined mixture.

Both organic cottage cheese and flaxseed oil are readily found in most health food stores however I would like to suggest two excellent sources for flaxseed oil that provide exceptionally high grade, 100% organic products. The first company is Omega Nutrition USA at 800-661-3529 and the second one is Barlean Organic Oils at 800-445-3529.  Both companies are in the state of Washington and both also offer deeply discounted purchases for cancer patients.

In closing I can only say that a cancer victim is foolish who expects to continue with a “normal” diet and get well at the same time.  Your good health and the prevention of cancer should be a lifetime commitment and if you drop the program after the two or three months it may take to heal yourself, then you may be very sorry down the road.  Once again I am quoting Bill Henderson, the noted guru for curing all cancer naturally.

May you find it within you to remember this article and share it with those afflicted by cancer.

Read more great info on cancer at
http://www.healthwantednow.com/2010/03/flaxseed-oil-and-cottage-cheese-%E2%80%93-a-cure-for-all-cancers/

GMO - More Dangerous Than You Think

This 24 min video is worth your time. Please share it with family and friends.

A Great Cancer Story

Just had to share this wonderful story. 

My Cancer Story

By Kim H.

In January of 2007, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I had a lumpectomy and then started chemotherapy a month later.  My sister had undergone chemotherapy and while she assured me I would be fine, she also gave me pointers on how to cope with the very uncomfortable (okay, miserable) side effects such as bowel distress and mouth sores.

With this in mind, I knew I had to do something to try to build my body’s defense systems.   When Kathy Price walked into my office one day, I followed a prompting to ask her about Body Balance.  I began taking it immediately. 

I had chemotherapy treatments every other week and I was on what they refer to as “dose-dense” therapy.  In other words, they plastered me with chemo because I had a very aggressive form of breast cancer.   While I did suffer with nausea, especially with the first drug, I kept waiting for the abdominal distress to come.  I never got it.  I also seemed to bounce back faster than other chemo patients.  When I sat in the therapy room with other ladies, I could hear them talking about the famous mouth sores.  I was so afraid of getting them because to hear them talk, they would totally put you out of commission, and I needed to be able to work.  One woman described her mouth sores as if someone had pulled her tongue out of her mouth and run a cheese grater over it until it was raw and bleeding. 

When I started the second drug, a receptionist handed me a piece of paper with suggestions as to what I could do when I developed mouth sores.  I told her that I hadn’t had any yet.  She said, “Well, I hope you don’t get them, but most people do.”  A few week later, I awoke in the night with a very sore tongue.  It felt as if it were on fire and like I had extremely large canker sores…although I didn’t.  I got out of bed and took a pain killer, but I also put some Body Balance in my mouth and just let it sit there for quite awhile.  I did this several times throughout the day and by that evening, my sore mouth was gone.  When I related this story to my doctor he said, that doesn’t happen to anybody! If they get mouth sores, they really get mouth sores.”   

Another blessing I had was that of my blood count.  I never had to take a shot to keep my platelets or red blood cell count high.  My doctor would say, “I don’t know what you’re doing, but keep it up.”   

One day my daughter was visiting me while I was on chemo, and she said, “Mother, I haven’t heard you complain headache for a long time.”  I had to stop and think about it.  I had suffered with migraines for some time, and after my daughter said that, I realized I hadn’t had a headache for several weeks.  And I have only had one bad headache since that time.  My migraines are gone.  I also don’t have any restless legs anymore. 

I am convinced that I need it for overall well-being, but also to help my body fight off a return of the cancer.   

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now Body Balance has 65% more Sea Vegetables and a more potent Aloe Vera. Still the same great taste too. I hope you give it a try. 

Be well,

Mary

Fructose Could be the Key to Your Weight Loss

Here is some good news for anyone who is struggling to lose weight.  It’s not the calories you consume that sabotage your weight loss; it’s the sugar – particularly the FRUCTOSE. 

Dr. Richard Johnson, chief of the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at the University of Colorado, is the author of The Fat Switch presenting a new approach to preventing and reversing obesity.

Dr. Johnson’s research shows that a high fructose diet is the key to developing metabolic syndrome – what leads so many dieters to give up.

“[O]ne group [of animals] is getting a number of calories that an animal would normally eat, but it’s high in fructose. Another group will get the same amount of food – exactly the same amount of food, but with a different carbohydrate, like glucose.

It’s the fructose-fed rats that develop metabolic syndrome. Suddenly they get fatty liver. They get visceral fat. Their blood pressure goes up. Their triglycerides are high. They actually develop all these features, whereas the glucose-fed rats don’t—and they’re eating the same number of calories!

We even did a study two years ago that was even more remarkable. We took laboratory animals and we put them on a diet. We gave them 90 percent of what they normally eat, but one diet had 40 percent sugar. (Now remember, some kids are eating 30 percent of their diet as sugar right now)... The control rats were eating the same [amount of calories] in starch. What was amazing was that the sugar-fed animals developed fatty liver – like massive fatty liver – and even became diabetic. The control animals did not.

There’s something special about fructose. It’s not just a calorie. This led us to try to figure out why... It was a big challenge to figure out how fructose was causing diabetes and obesity through a mechanism that doesn’t really require excessive calorie intake.”

Some people are more susceptible to the effects of fructose and may have high uric acid levels and insulin resistance. You can get your uric acid level tested. Ideally it should be no greater than 3.5 mg/dl for women and 4.0 mg/dl for men. If you fall into the susceptible group you’ll want to avoid fructose completely  - even avoiding honey which is up to 70% fructose and agave nectar (60% -70% fructose). My new favorite is coconut sugarwith only 3% fructose and a glycemic index of 35 making it a low-glycemic food.  It looks and tastes like brown sugar.

So don’t despair if you dieting is getting you no where.  I can help you come up with a diet that is more specific to your body type and needs.  Getting rid of the sugar (especially fructose) is one way for most people to have more success.

Be well always,

Mary

www.thejoyofbeingwell.com

www.NoMorePills.us

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Natural Remedies for Pelvic Organ Prolapse

(Below is a guest post by blogger Elizabeth Carrollton)

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition that will affect a great number of women during their lifetimes, most commonly as menopause approaches. If you have had children, POP is something you should educate yourself about, since nearly half of women who have given birth will be affected to some degree.

Symptoms to watch out for include feelings of pressure or fullness or a noticeable bulge in the vagina. Urine leakage when you cough or laugh can be a sign of POP, as can pain during sex, frequent constipation, irregular vaginal spotting or bleeding and frequent urinary tract infections. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor, but if you do have POP, don't rush into surgical solution. Many women can be helped with natural remedies, so make sure to discuss less invasive options with your doctor before resorting to surgery.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse results from a weakened pelvic floor, which is the support structure made up of muscles and connective tissues that keep pelvic organs in place. When the pelvic floor is stretched or weakened, it can allow pelvic organs like the bladder, uterus and rectum to drop lower than they should be in the pelvis, placing pressure on the vagina. Weakness in the pelvic floor is most often linked to childbirth, but anything that places pressure on the pelvic floor can contribute, such as heavy lifting, high-impact sports, a chronic cough, obesity or the straining that comes from chronic constipation.

Natural Remedies

Most doctors will recommend that women try non-invasive natural remedies to alleviate the discomfort of prolapse before considering surgery. A daily routine of gentle exercise is a measure that eases the symptoms of many women. Speak to your doctor for instructions on Kegel exercises, which have proven very helpful in building strength and tone in the pelvic floor. Walking, Pilates and yoga can also help.

Addressing constipation is an important step in relieving POP symptoms. Add fiber to your diet by eating more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. If constipation is still a problem, fiber supplements and stool softeners can help. Weight management is important as well, since excess weight stresses the pelvic floor. Also, avoid heavy lifting and high-impact activities, like running and jumping. If you have done all of these things and still have discomfort, your doctor may suggest a pessary, which is a medical device placed in the vagina to support prolapsed organs.

Surgery

If natural remedies fail, your doctor may recommend surgery if your POP is severe enough to significantly affect your quality of life. It is important that you discuss all surgical options, since some POP repair procedures involve more risk than others.

Over the past decade, many procedures have involved the use of transvaginal mesh implants. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued alerts on these devices, since reports of serious complications with their use have been growing at disturbing rates. The most common problems reported are mesh erosion, mesh shrinkage, organ perforation and infection. Further surgeries are often required to correct these complications, and they are not always successful. For many women the complications will affect them for the rest of theirs live, many have therefore sought compensation through the filing of a transvaginal mesh lawsuit against manufacturers of the mesh products. So, be sure to ask your doctor about surgeries that do not use mesh.

Elizabeth Carrollton writes to inform the public about defective medical devices and dangerous drugs for Drugwatch.com.

More on Water

So we are back to drinking RO water doctored up with liquid minerals. Still searching for the perfect solution. I remember our visit to Manitou Springs, CO and taking a tour of all the natural springs in town. I've never tasted anything better. Amazing! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all have delicious, healthy mineral water every day?

Meanwhile I continue to search for the best, fluoride-free, chemical free, heavy metal free water. I did find one possibility at Pure Water Freedom.   It's quite an elaborate system that uses a form or aluminum to attract the fluoride, then takes the water through 6 other layers to remove chemicals and the aluminum and other heavy metals. Let me know if you have used or are using a system that removes fluoride please.

Sure would be nice if our city councils would stop poisoning us by adding the fluoride in the first place. It's been proven to be a neurotoxin and is banned in many countries. We just don't need it. If you want to avoid tooth decay brush your teeth and stop drinking soda. Not rocket science folks. It's time for us to take responsibility for our health and stop relying on someone else to fix us when we keep getting sick. We are smart enough to know better. We can do this.

If you want ideas on where to start, let me know. I'd love to help.

Be well always,
Mary
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/fluoridated-water

http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/cancer/osteosarcoma.aspx

http://www.fluoridealert.org/caseagainstfluoride-appendices.html

I was wrong!

I started to write about foods that naturally reduce inflammation and was led (yes - I believe guided) to information that pretty much rocked my safe little world.

For years I have been touting the benefits of drinking RO (reverse osmosis) water because it was the only think I knew of that could eliminate all the toxins including fluoride from drinking water. I later learned that the ph level of RO water was very low (acidic) so we started adding liquid minerals to our drinking water and recommended that friends do the same.

Today I was led to article after article, including one by the WHO, proclaiming the dangers of drinking demineralized water. It is extremely acidic, absorbs carbon dioxide and leaches minerals out of your body as you drink it. In fact, your body contributes so much calcium, magnesium and potassium in an effort to alkalize the water that osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, gout, thyroid disease and heart disease can all result from drinking this water.

I thought adding mineral drops to the water would take care of this, but studies have shown this not to be true. After years of doing just that, RO water drinkers who added minerals were still more deficient in minerals than others who drank tap water.

I still believe that drinking unfiltered tap water is dangerous and there are many studies out the to prove that point. For now we are switching to the Shaklee Water Pitcher  This pitcher takes out way more contaminants than any of the other water filtration pitchers we looked at.  If you don't know a Shaklee consultant, contact me - I know several.

There - I feel a little better now. Please share this information with people you care about. We are all learning as we go and I will let you know new information as soon as I find it.

Be well always,
Mary

Some information taken from the following sources:
Winston W. J. Kao 727-447-2344 or info@gobeyondorganic.com

http://shop.snyderhealth.com/product_info.php?product=alkalife-alkaline-booster-drops&category=ph-booster-drops-alkalife&osCsid=940ecec3410f5c95237c844e5a61523b

http://www.snyderhealth.com/water_ionizers/distilled_and_reverse_osmosis_water.html

Foods That Make You Happy

Summer is usually a happier time especially in this northern climate because the sunshine is so full of Vitamin D3 for us. However, if you are having a bad day, you might be tempted to turn to food for comfort.  Guess what - there are foods that will actually help you to feel better fast - maybe even keep the bad days away. 

1. Bananas - Loaded with potassium, these sweet, creamy treats are so good and healthy, you'll want to eat them every day. They contain tryptophan that the body converts to serotonin - the feel-good hormone. 

2. Nuts (especially walnuts) - Packed with Omega 3's, protein and minerals, they could help short-circuit depression. try rolling slices of banana in chopped nuts for a mood-altering, delicious treat. 

3. Chocolate - Yup - you know you love it and now you know that chocolate contains anadamine that scientists say is a brain chemical that boosts your mood. OK - I'm seeing frozen banana slices dipped in chocolate and rolled in chopped nuts. YUM! I'm happier already. 

4. Coffee - Again science proves that the energy-boosting drink we love can actually boost our mood as well as our memory. It improves attention, concentration and reaction time too. Add a little milk and the calcium to calm your nerves and it's even better. Are you with me here? Nothing like creamy cappuccino to go with those cool bananas.  Moderation is key - one to two cups a day. 

5. Fish (salmon, tuna) - Again the Omega 3's are responsible for mood boosting here. You'll also get lots of B6 and B12 that are used in the production of serotonin so aim for 2-3 servings a week to keep your feel-good mood. 
6. Broccoli and Spinach - Yum! Raw or cooked these greens and many others give you a power house of B vitamins, minerals and much more. The B vitamin Folic Acid is especially important for production of serotonin and reduction of stress. 
7. Blueberries and Strawberries - loaded with Vitamin C and fiber, these yummy summer fruits help combat stress, fight free radicals and keep away tummy troubles. Eat up. 
8. Beans - Round out the menu with a variety of beans because their fiber, Omega 3's and folic acid will fill you up, help you lose weight and boost your mood at the same time. 


So when you're having a bad day, don't feel guilty about indulging in a healthy, delicious treat. Just remember to use moderation, drink lots of pure water and BREATHE. Actually breathing should be your first go-to for grounding yourself and lightening your mood. It works every time. 


Be well always,
Mary

So tired of being tired

Everyone is talking about being exhausted all the time. Life is so crazy and we are stressed to the max! We don't take time off - can't afford to.  We don't get enough sleep - can't afford to. We don't always eat right - can't afford to? Or can't afford the time?  So what is the answer in this crazy, extreme life we created?

First of all, even if all of the above is true, a different perspective is needed here. We feel we can't afford the time, cost, energy, whatever to treat our bodies well. Here is the truth. We really can not afford not to. 

We all have these two little adrenal glands that help us deal with stress. Going back to the beginning of the human race these glands have allowed us to deal with extreme stress and survive. Here comes a lion - I need to run or fight like crazy. Extreme rush of adrenalin to give me super-human strength so I can survive. Afterwards I crash from all of that exertion and excess adrenalin, but that's OK because I am safe now so I rest and restore my body before the next trial. 

Jump to today - here comes the boss - say the right thing, have all the work done, make sure it's super-fantastic so I don't lose my job so I can keep my house and feed my family. Phone is ringing, emails need to be answered, need to take work home with me, need to work late into the night and get up early for a morning meeting - need caffeine to look like I'm awake - no time to rest - no time to restore my body - just keep pushing. . . . . . 

Wow! Your body is saying "Really?!?? You want me to do that again?!?!? When do I get to rest?"

Guess what - when your adrenal glands are exhausted they can stop producing adrenalin - that 'fight or flight' hormone that keeps you going at high-stress levels. What happens then is a system crash that will force you to either stop everything or use major drugs to keep going. Yuck! 

We need to make some changes as the best forward-thinking companies recognize. Some are incorporating yoga classes on site. Others are making time for Meditation or even mid-afternoon naps. If you have not tried the 15 minute nap, please do! It's amazing how that tiny bit of time can calm your nerves, reduce your stress and make you more alert and productive. 

Stress-free eating helps too. Avoid sugar and caffeine for starters. Add more fruits and veggies or if that doesn't seem appealing or possible, add one of the great whole-food, organic, cold-processed products that will give you your fruits and veggies in a quick shake. Two I recommend are Body Balance and Natraburst. I use them both. 

Stay hydrated - try for half your weight in ounces of water daily. (ex. you weight 160, drink 80 oz). 

MOST IMPORTANTLY - BREATHE! 

Remind yourself to take deep belly breaths whenever you can. Take a 5 minute break and just breathe as deeply as you can. You will be amazed at the results - more energy instantly, better sleep, weight loss, better health, better complexion, etc. 

This is the only body you get this time around. It needs your love and attention. We all need you to take care of yourself so you can be here for a while and share your wonderful gifts. 

Be well always,

Mary

More on adrenal fatigue...

http://www.adrenalfatigue.org/what-is-adrenal-fatigue

One in every 88 boys diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

This is the latest shocking statistic. Maybe we are more hyper-aware than 20 years ago - but ASD is not normal, and we should be outraged by this statistic! 

The evidence points to Toxic Overload which is damaging their fragile genetic structure. Immunizations have been identified as one source of toxins, but they are everywhere. Our environment is overflowing with toxins - so much so that poisonous toxins are even found in mother's milk and the umbilical chords of newborns. 

As a parent, you may be panicking right now.  Yes - we want you to be aware - we want you to get angry - so angry that you'll help us make changes. We need to shut down the sources of this toxic pollution. We all know about air pollution from factories and vehicles. However, the greatest threat to our health and that of our children today comes from our food. 

The survival of every cell in our body depends on good, wholesome nutrition. Vegetables and fruits every color of the rainbow, nuts, seeds, natural whole grains, naturally raised and healthy animals and fish all have important roles in cell nourishment. But natural, healthy sources of these foods are getting harder to find. Why? Because we douse our foods with pesticides, herbicides, and more. We feed our animals these toxic foods and raise them in unhealthy conditions creating animals plagued by disease and filled with stress hormones. 

Our precious water - that which makes up over 70% of our body - is so toxic that we must filter it and add more chemicals to make it "safe" to drink. 

My purpose is not to completely depress you. I am here to tell you that YOU CAN DO SOMETHING about this today. Your body is a remarkable miracle of strength and healing. What it needs to heal itself and cleanse itself of the poisons is beautiful, whole-food nutrition and clean water.  Nothing fortified, pre-packaged, super-sized, deep-fried or instant can feed your body the nutrients it craves. 

So where do you start. 

Pay attention when you shop - read labels.

Buy organic when you can. 

Buy grass fed and free-range beef and poultry. Yes it costs more but you only need 3-5oz a day - less for some. 

Use reverse osmosis water.

Get rid of fluoride toothpaste.

Get rid of cleaning chemicals. 

Use natural soaps, shampoos, cosmetics. 

Probably the most important thing you can do right now - today - is to start feeding you body something everyday that will supply a mega-serving of super healthy phytonutrients from a whole food source. This will do two things: 

1) your body will start cleansing out the toxins and 

2) your body will have the nutrition it needs to repair and rebuild damaged cells. 

Please don't let anyone tell you that you can get what you need just by eating food. That just isn't true anymore - at least right now. When we have a chance to heal Mother Earth, that may become true again. 

There are many sources of healing nutrition available. I have researched quite a few and found several that I truly believe make a difference. We have seen countless cases of ASD improve and even reverse when young bodies are given healing nutrition.  

I would be happy to tell you more and help you decide where to start. Please contact me at maryslifeforce@gmail.com or call 608-245-9308.  Nothing is impossible. This journey can start today with a single step. Just please start. 

Be well always,

Mary

www.TheJoyofBeingWell.com