Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Swine Flu : What You Need To Know
The truth is that back in July the CDC told states to stop testing for swine flu. If you have any flu like symptoms you are counted as having 'Swine Flu'. But the states that actually test (some still do) are finding that 80 to 90 percent of those tested for flu, don't have 'Swine Flu', or even influenza. 8 to 10 percent have influenza, and 1 or 2 percent have 'Swine Flu'.
The thing is, that because of the media hype and scare tactics of the government agencies, more people are running to the doctor for coughs and sniffles. These are all being counted as having 'Swine Flu'.
Another thing that you need to know is that in most cases 'Swine Flu' is less dangerous than influenza. Even the cases that they claim died from 'Swine Flu' are not shown to have specifically died from 'Swine Flu', but had multiple other disease conditions. 'Swine Flu' was just one of the conditions they had. In most cases it was bacterial infection, not even viral.
See the CBS report HERE.
The other thing that you need to know is that the vaccine is proving to be much more dangerous than the flu. The vaccine is being rushed to market without safety regulations in place.
This is a repeat of the 'Swine Flu' debacle that occurred in the 70's. More people died from the vaccine than from the disease. And that doesn't even count all those that became disabled in one form or another from the vaccine.
As far as any thinking person can tell, all the hype about 'Swine Flu' is solely to get people to take vaccines, so that the companies making them can profit. Of course it also gets more people to rush to clinics and hospitals for any cough or sniffle.
Here is an update on the 'Swine Flu' that everyone should read :
Dr. Mercola's update alert.
Keep you and your family healthy by choosing the lifestyle that gives you a strong immune system. (Vaccines weaken your immune system.)
Eat fresh whole foods.
Exercise.
Get good sleep.
Avoid processed sugars of all kinds.
Get fresh air and sunshine daily.
Avoid polyunsaturated fats and oils.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Vaccines : The Truth Leaks Out
Now, remember that this is unpublished as yet, and therefore not yet peer reviewed. But health workers all over have heard of it and are starting to react to it.
Someone finally did research comparing individuals who got the flu vaccine last year with those who did not. Can you guess what they found?
People who got the flu shot were twice as likely to get the swine flu as those who did not get the vaccine.
Yes, you read that correctly. You are safer from swine flu if you don't get the vaccine.
Why would that be?
Well, the vaccination is toxic. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't boost your immune system, it taxes your immune system.
Before you decide to get a vaccination, find a research study that shows that those who get vaccinated with the vaccine you are thinking of getting, are healthier than those who did not get the vaccine.
I have a standing challenge for anyone to show me a single study, done with more than 1000 individuals, that shows that people vaccinated are healthier than those who do not get the vaccine.
So far no one has been able to show me one. I even exchanged emails with a director of the CDC about this subject. He told me that the military had the best studies, but the only study he pointed me to was a comparison of one vaccine against another vaccine. There was no comparison with non-vaccinated individuals. When I pointed this out to him, he pointed out that he was too busy to find a particular study for me and that everyone knows that vaccines work.
The more I study vaccines, the more I realize that they do not work to move people toward health. They are simply toxins, and don't we have enough of those in our environment already?
Vaccinations are a multi-billion dollar profit maker for the companies that make them. But that is the only benefit they have. I can find no health benefit to anyone from any vaccine.
If you want a strong immune system, here are my recommendations.
Never get any vaccine.
Exercise at least 5 days a week.
Sleep 6 to 8 hours each night. (It is preferable to get to sleep by 10pm each night.)
Drink plenty of water with sea minerals therein.
Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Eat plenty of whole grains.
Eat healthy fats. (Avocados, coconut oil, nuts, raw milk and eggs)
Use power spices (turmeric, garlic, ginger, oregano, cayenne, cinnamon, etc.)
Eliminate all "refined" foods from your diet.
HERE is a good resource for learning more about eating for health. Go HERE.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Osteoarthritis And Rheumatoid Arthritis
However, because they both involve the breakdown of the connective tissues, they can both be treated with success in much the same way.
One of the problems is water. Interestingly the problem can be exacerbated by too little water, or too much water. However, I'll make this easier for you. Too little water is dehydration. Too much water (like water on the knee) is actually another sign of dehydration. This is why joint pain is nearly always helped by increasing water intake.
Of course to optimize your water intake, you need good sea minerals to go with the water. The body can't use water without minerals very well. I put a little "Redmond Real Salt" in every glass of water I drink. Aim for drinking your weight (in pounds) divided by 10, cups of water each day. That may seem like a lot, but trust me.
Another important thing for healthy cartilage is good balanced proteins. The best way to get these is to eat whole foods. Sprouted wheat, raw milk and eggs are some of your best sources. Make these foods part of your daily routine.
There are many people who advise various supplements for joint health, but the research on these is very inconclusive as to whether or not they work. You are much better off just saving the money you would spend on supplements to buy good wholesome (organic if possible) foods.
Eat plenty of fresh vegetables, particularly the leafy greens, like spinach. This is good nutrition to build healthy bones and cartilage. Also getting lots of antioxidants is very beneficial (think fruit, berries, whole grains, and veggies). Antioxidants help to clean the system, and can help to minimize pain. (Pain pills only end up causing more problems further down the road.)
Another cause of cartilage problems can be hormonal imbalances. The best way to balance your hormones is by making sure that your body is getting good fats, and avoiding bad fats. Start by the total elimination of all corn, soy, canola, or cotton seed oils. The best overall hormone balancing fat is probably coconut oil. I suggest 3 to 4 Tablespoons a day. Use a tablespoon full of coconut oil with each meal.
Avoid all hydrogenated fats and transfats (fried foods), and eat good fats like avocados, nuts, raw milk and eggs.
Exercise is another very important treatment for any kind of arthritis. Lack of motion only makes the problem worse. Of course, you need to be careful and not over do. Motion keeps the joints alive. Swimming and cycling are very good because they are not to jarring on the joints.
Now, we do want to be careful to not injure anything with the exercise, but at the same time we do want to cause some stress to the body. You see, one of the little secrets to building healthy bones and cartilage is that your body needs weight bearing jolts. The kind of thing that happens when you run or jump. These weight bearing jolts send impulses through the body that tell the body to build stronger bones and cartilage.
Shhhhhhh. It's a secret, don't tell.
So, how do you get these little jolts, but not cause damage? Bouncing on a trampoline is good, but you can simply hang on to something for support while standing, and raise up onto your toes, and then drop down to your heels. Let your heels strike the ground with a little bump. Don't lock your knees while doing this. In fact it is generally best to not lock your knees in any exercise. Do this for a minute or two any time you find yourself standing around during the day.
One other thing that I should mention about exercising for joint health, is that you want to actually work the tendons and ligaments, not just the muscles. Some people will tell you that you can't exercise tendons or ligaments to strengthen them, but they would be wrong. Here is the secret to exercising tendons and ligaments: Very slow deliberate motion.
For instance, if you want to build strength in the knees you can do squats or lunges. But you are only working the muscles if you go down and up in 10 seconds or less. To strengthen the tendons and ligaments, take a full minute to go down, and another minute to come back up.
You see, the muscles can hold any given position for up to about 10 seconds. After the muscle is fatigued, it requires tendon and ligament strength to continue. So if you are doing a full squat in a couple of minutes, then the muscle is fatigued all along the way and the tendons and ligaments get worked out.
With any exercise, be sure to try to get full range of motion.
Another very basic cause of joint problems is stressing the body through bad habits of structural posture and positioning. I highly recommend getting a book on the correct bio-mechanics of everyday living. Doing away with the under lying causes of pain is always a good idea.
HERE is a good program called "Perfect Posture Program". It is a course that you can download along with videos to show you how it is all done. This can be a critical first step in correcting joint pains and problems.
If you prefer a physical book you can look through and make your own program, I like a book called "Walk Yourself Well" by Sherry Brourman.
Osteoarthritis is very very common in our society today, but it doesn't have to remain that way. Switch to a healthy lifestyle, and let your body heal itself. It is actually very good at it.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Fat Related Deaths?
This is another example of bad research. Don't worry, no one died because they didn't get enough Omega-3 fats. Yet the researchers say that Omega-3 deficiency causes more deaths each year than breast cancer.
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Omega-3-deficiency-causes-96-000-US-deaths-per-year-say-researchers
This was simply a mathematical model applied to assumptions about health and death related to the amount of Omega-3 fats in the diet. It is one of those "decide what you believe, then show the results as if that belief were true" studies.
I'm sure it was interesting for the math majors involved, but it had no root in reality.
The sad part is that now supplement pushers are trying to use this information to sell more Omega-3 supplements, making you assume that in order to save your life you need to get more Omega-3s in your diet.
The truth is that we do need good fats in our diets. Eating wholesome foods containing good fats, can indeed improve health and even save some lives.
However, concentrating Omega-3s in a supplement and ingesting them can actually be dangerous. It is an overload of Omega-3s that the body was never intended to handle.
Many people today have become fat phobic. That is very sad. The more fat-free junk that gets consumed, the more obese the nation becomes. Fat is a very important part of a healthy diet. Fat is required by the body in order to metabolize and eliminate excess bad fat in the body.
The key is to eliminate bad fats, but increase good fats. OK, here is the list.
Bad Fats: Hydrogenated fats of any kind. Fat from meat, (it actually used to be good, but these days it is too filled with chemicals). Corn oils, soy oils, cotton seed oils, and canola oils are negative polyunsaturated oils that should be totally avoided.
Good Fats: Virgin Coconut oil, avocadoes, nuts, raw milk, butter and eggs are good fats that can make a wonderful difference in your health.
Bottom Line: If you are getting fat in your diet by eating whole foods, it is generally good for you. If you are using an extracted and processed vegetable oil, or foods that were made with them, it is generally bad for you.
Beware bad research. It has led many people astray. Read "Understanding Science" to make yourself more aware, and avoid being led astray.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
So how aware are we? What do we really know?
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, second only to lung cancer.
The American Cancer Society lists these things as ways to lower your risk of breast cancer:
- Eat a healthy diet to help control weight, since being overweight or obese may raise breast cancer risk.
- Get regular physical activity. The American Cancer Society recommends 30 minutes a day, 5 or more days a week. Forty-five to 60 minutes a day is even better for reducing breast cancer risk.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than 1 drink per day. Alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
The American Cancer Society has awarded approximately $388.4 million to breast cancer research since 1971. But they still haven't been able to figure out that living a healthy lifestyle is the answer they are looking for.
Yes, as listed above, they do suggest eating well and exercising regularly. But you will only find that on their web site if you search for it. And only after reading about the drugs they suggest.
There are no suggestions of what foods to avoid, or what to eat. There is a recent news story that they have released a cookbook on what to eat while going through cancer therapy, but it is not to be found on their website. At least not easily.
They also make a big push for lots of mammograms. Studies of mammograms show them to be not only ineffective, but to carry there own dangers. But the ACS web site tells us that most doctors "feel" that it is best for women to get mammograms.
Here is a much better method of detection that is far safer and can detect problems earlier:
Thermography
They also talk a lot about drugs to overcome genetic anomalies that may lead to breast cancer. But as mentioned elsewhere on this site, genetics really is a very weak link and can be completely overcome by proper lifestyle.
Birth control pills up your chances of getting breast cancer, as well as other forms of estrogen hormone supplementation.
Breast feeding will lessen your chances of getting breast cancer, as will making sure that you get adequate levels of Vitamin D. (Get sunshine daily if possible.)
Using coconut oil instead of corn, soy, or canola will go a long way in helping your body to balance all of its hormone levels and stay cancer free.
Get your 9 servings of veggies and fruits daily. Reference here.
If you already have had breast cancer problems, and need to deal with the effects of chemo, here is a resource to help you recover. Click HERE.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Organic? Is It Better?

I used to laugh when people would talk about organic food. I thought, "Isn't all food organic!"
Well, it turns out that there are multiple definitions of organic. The one used most commonly today, in relation to the foods we eat, is that there were no pesticides or other chemical treatments used in the growing and/or harvesting of the food.
Organic food labels let you know that the food has less of a chance of being full of man-made chemicals that could possibly cause harm to the human body.
Does this mean that it is good to eat any food that says "organic" somewhere on the label. Not necessarily. If something is basically not good for you, but it was grown "organically" and then labeled "organic" in the store, it does not make that something good for you.
In other words, even if something was grown organically, it can still be bad for you if that was it's nature originally, or if the goodness is processed out of it after it was grown.
There are many things on store shelves that are labeled "organic", but are still not good for consumption by the human body. Never buy something just because it says it is organic.
However, when if comes to fresh produce, it can be very worth while to buy 'organically' grown food. The advantage of not getting all those pesticides and other chemicals in your food can be a great boon to the well being of your body.
If you are fighting a disease, or debilitating condition of some kind, eating fresh organically grown foods can go a long way toward helping your body to heal and recover health.
Of course the very best way to get fresh food is to grow it and harvest it yourself. Backyard gardening is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself and/or your family.
Here is a great resource to help you grow your own. Just the fee bonuses that come with this make it worth while. Learn more HERE.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Chew On This
You have done your research, so you know the nutrition is in the food. You just don't seem to be getting the benefit into your body. What could the problem be?
The answer, of course, would be that your digestion may be having some problems. If the food you eat doesn't get digested, then your body can't use the nutrition from it.
Today let's talk about where good digestion starts. Good digestion starts when you put food into your mouth.
Raise your hand if you have ever heard your mom say something like, "Chew your food before you swallow."
Why did she say that? Because her mom said it? What is the big deal about chewing your food?
Well... oh yes, you can put your hand down now. Let's talk about mastication.
Chewing actually starts the whole digestion process, and it is a very important part of it. If you don't chew your food well, you may not be getting a lot of the nutrition out of your food that you could be getting if you took the time to chew better.
Chewing breaks the food up into smaller pieces, giving it more surface area to be worked on by the other digestive fluids. Not to mention that it makes swallowing easier and safer.
It also causes enzymes to start flowing. They flow into the mouth and start some of the digestion right then and there. Chewing also causes the digestive juices to start flowing in the stomach, in preparation for what is coming down the pipe.
One of the fascinating things that I have learned about chewing is that it can even help, after you have already swallowed. So, if you have an upset stomach after eating a large meal, or a difficult to digest meal, you can pretend to chew and it will help to settle the tummy. It is actually better and safer than taking antacids.
Chewing even helps to prepare the muscles in the lower abdomen to release and allow everything to flow throught the intestines and the bowel.
Bottom line : Take time to chew. You will be healthier for it. Because your body will get more of the available nutrition from your food, and your food will be less gunking (is that a word?) to your digestive system.
Rule of thumb : Chew until the food is now longer identifiable by feel. Then swallow.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Apply This Quote To Your Lifestyle
It is surprising, but many people don't seem to understand this simple truth.
If you want to have a strong and healthy body, you can't keep putting junk into it. No matter how good it may taste, or how hard it may be to change the habit. Even if everyone else is doing it too.
If you want to have an athletic body, then stop treating your body like a couch potato.
If you don't want to ever get cancer, then stop feeding your body carcinogens.
If you don't want to get diabetes, then stop eating all the processed sugar and processed grains.
If you don't want high blood pressure, stop living a dehydrated lifestyle.
If you want a real life, stop eating fake food.
Choose to live today, in a manner that will allow you to enjoy life all the rest of your days.
HERE are the basics to understand and follow to garner a health lifestyle.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Balance Is Everything
You can have too many free radicals, but you can also have too few. You can have too little iron, but you can also have too much. You can even have too little or too much arsenic.
So then the big question becomes, how do you find that balance?
Many would have you believe that taking drugs can help you reach that balance. It can not.
All man made drugs are anti-balance by their very nature. When you take something from nature that has been shown to be beneficial for health, and then you dissect it and decide that a certain part of it is the active part that you want to use, you have just destroyed the balance that existed in nature. By concentrating a particular part of a plant (which you have to do, if you are going to be able to patent the drug), you are creating something that will stimulate the body in an unnatural and imbalanced way. That is why all drugs have side effects.
It would be so much nicer to just create a list of the beneficial plants that we have discovered to help us be healthy. But you can't patent a natural plant, so you can't make an insane mark up of the price.
So if drugs aren't the answer, what about supplements?
Unfortunately most supplements are not much different than drugs. Yes, they will often have a lot fewer dangerous side effects than drugs, but sometimes not. You still have the same problem of taking a large dose of a particular thing. If supplements were really to work, you would have to constantly monitor your levels of the nutrient you are supplementing to see when you have enough, but not too much.
The problem with that is that we can't even agree on what the correct level of most nutrients is, not to mention the problem of constant testing to see when your levels are up or down. The other thing is that all the nutrients work together, synergisticly, to keep us functioning correctly. We don't even know what all the nutrients to the human body are, let alone how they all work together. We have some basic ideas, but it is nowhere near the point of being able to micromanage the nutrients in the body.
Another interesting observation is that the symptoms of having too much of something, are quite often pretty much identical to having too little of the same thing. So we don't really even know for sure.
Even blood tests can fool us, because somethings that we have too much of can be very low in the blood, because the body is storing it away elsewhere so that it doesn't have to deal with the overload. Other times, things that we are deficient in can show good levels in the blood while the body tries to rush them around to share in all the places they are needed. For example, when we are deficient, the body can be pulling certain nutrients from the bones to use in other body processes. So a blood test might show that those nutrients are plentiful in the blood.
The beautiful thing is that we don't have to try to micromanage everything. If we eat the things that the creator has made for us, they have a special ability, that we haven't even begun to understand yet, to balance all the systems of the body.
If you think you need a particular nutrient, (and again we really don't know if you do) just make sure that you are eating a variety of good nutritious food made by God. Of course, make sure that it is not processed by man to the point of destroying a lot of its balance. Fresh and raw are usually the best. Try to get something from all the major food groups each day.
The major food groups are : Whole unprocessed grains, vegetables, fruit, legumes and nuts, and carefully chosen animal products (think raw milk and eggs).
The other major keys to making everything balance are water, exercise and sleep. Without those three, the other nutrients can't even be used by the body.
Again, water is of paramount importance. Without adequate water the body cannot move nutrients around the body. Without water it cannot flush out the toxins and waste and keep the body clean. Also remember that your water needs to be mineralized. Use real mineral water fresh from the earth if possible, or put a dash of real sea salt (complete with all the trace-minerals) in the water you drink. If you are drinking sufficient quantities of water (one tenth of your body weight in pounds, cups of water a day) your body will be able to use what it needs and flush out what it doesn't need.
Balance is a natural thing for the body to do. We just have to give it the resources it needs, and not burden it to much with the toxins or overeating.
Ryan's book on "The Dependables" is a great way to gain a lot of understanding along these lines. Get it HERE.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are from an annual herb called Salvia Hispanica. It is a member of the mint family. The name chia comes from an Aztec word, chian, meaning oily.
They are high in oil content, (about 30%) and the predominant oil is polyunsaturated. Since most Americans have way too much polyunsaturated oils in there diet, I would suggest limiting your intake of chia seeds.
Chia is promoted as an excellent source of nutrition, that will help to curb pain, and will help to extend endurance. It is also high in fiber and protein. It contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. So do most cereal grains, which is what chia seeds are usually compared to.
In spite of the claims made by people trying to sell health promoting products made with chia seeds, it isn't really any more remarkable than other cereal grains. However, it is much more expensive. They call it a superfood, and sell it (even in bulk) for about four and a half dollars a pound.
I can get wheat for seven or eight dollars for 25 pounds. Since I know that wheat contains pretty much all the nutrition I can need, why would I want to spend nine or ten times as much for something that isn't really that much different. Besides, nobody needs the extra polyunsaturated oils.
Even the Aztecs, who are supposed to have revered this as a superfood, listed chia behind several other important grains. The descendants of the ancient Aztecs still grow and harvest chia seeds, but only on a minor scale. It evidently wasn't all that important of a crop to them.
Chia seed sprouts are fine to use like alfalfa sprouts in a salad if you like. Just don't over do them, because they are very high in polyunsaturated oils.
Chickens fed chia had higher deposits of polyunsaturated oils in their legs and breasts. They also laid fewer eggs and lighter eggs.
Contrary to popular myth, polyunsaturated oils are not healthy for your heart or your body. In fact it has now been discovered that polyunsaturated oils contribute to the formation of cancer.
Stress Managment
For health and well being we generally want to eliminate as much stress as possible.
However, it should be noted that there are some good things about stress as well. Stressing the body can stimulate it and cause growth. This is an important type of stress to put on the body.
The biggest problem with stress, is when it becomes chronic or constant. Constant stress that never lets up, doesn't allow the body to rebuild and strengthen. This could be from a dental problem that we are ignoring, or are unaware of. It could be long term unbalanced use of muscles or skeletal systems. It can also be constant worry about things in our lives.
Stress can cause the body to not function correctly. If you are having a health issue that doesn't seem to get better no matter what you do, then you probably need to analyze your stress levels.
Amazingly, getting into a healthy lifestyle can help with all forms of stress. Once you are giving the body the good resources it needs to repair and rejuvenate, many stresses will be relieved.
For some chronic stresses you may need to see a specialist. For instance if you have chronic tooth sensitivity or pain, you probably need to see a dentist.
Another important thing to do, is to learn how to deal with stress. Stress will always be a part of life. But if you learn to pray, meditate, ponder, and relax, you can relieve many stresses.
Take a little time each day to just relax and count your blessings. Ponder on the good things that have happened to you. Look forward with a positive attitude to things that may happen in your future. Don't fear the future, but look for good things to happen. Expect good things and they will usually come.
Imagination is a very powerful force. Use your imagination to imagine a positive future for your self. Dwell on those positive images often, and before you know it, you may very well receive that positive future.
If you would would like some help in dealing with stress in your life, take a look at THIS PROGRAM. It might be what you need.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Genetic Determinism Is Dead (or at least is should be)
The Human Genome Project was going to be the crowning achievement for all those who believed in Genetic Determinism. But the project has proven to be the sledge hammer that has destroyed it completely.
You see, the project caused more and more people to join in the research of discovering how genes work and what they do. As a result we have learned a lot!
Genetic Determinism said that a gene determines what proteins are formed, which determines what happens in the body. (I know that is very simplistic, but I'm trying to keep this understandable.) It was supposed to be kind of a one-way-street. The gene directs the body what to do.
Well, thanks to all the new research, we now know that it just isn't so. The communication channels in the body between DNA, RNA, proteins, etc, are more like the phone lines criss-crossing our country. Communication goes all over the place and in both directions at the same time. In fact, we now know that genes do not initiate communication. They are simply waiting for someone to contact them, so that they can share what they have to offer. I guess they got cell phones with no way to dial out.
The proteins make contact with the genes when they need something from them. Only certain proteins can make contact with certain genes. The proteins are formed by the needs of the body, determined by the environment.
The whole process can be just the opposite of the way Genetic Determinism pictured it to be. The environment can cause proteins to reconfigure RNA and DNA. The body can adapt very quickly to changes in it's environment.
However, there is an innate intelligence in every organism, from bacteria to human, which will always bring the organism back to equilibrium as soon as it can get the resources to do so.
In other words, Evolution of Species is also doomed. There are no changes which gradually little by little get passed along until something has evolved into something else.
I'm trying to keep this simple, but for those interested HERE is a link to a more in depth analysis by a biologist.
Also, be sure to read my book about "Understanding Science". It will help you to make sense of all the different "scientific" stuff thats gets thrown around these days.
So... what does all this mean to you and your life?
As your body comes in contact with toxins and pollutants it tries to adapt quickly to help you survive. If you have long term exposures to toxins, it gets harder and harder for your body to deal with it. This will eventually lead to chronic pain and or disease.
The good news is that your body still has the innate intelligence to heal itself, if it is given a break from all the stress, and also given the good resources (think whole, raw, natural foods) that it needs to repair and rebuild.
Perhaps the most difficult part of that, is to stop the stress. Let's talk more about stress tomorrow.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sprouting Grains : How To
When you know how to sprout grains you can live off of a years supply of wheat. As long as you also have water, of course.
Sprouting your grains is kind of like getting your fruits and vegetables from your grains. Sprouted grains have even more nutrients than the un-sprouted grains. For instance whole wheat kernels have lots of nutrients, but they lack Vitamin C. If you sprout them, they suddenly have Vitamin C. Also sprouts are easier to eat, and to digest, than the whole grains.
Here are the simple steps to sprouting grain.
Soak the grain in water over night. (8 to 12 hours at room temperature).
Then rinse and drain the water off of them approximately every 6 to 8 hours. (Keep them moist, but not sitting in water, at room temperature.)
I do this in a glass jar with netting over the opening, held in place by a rubber band. I invert the jar at an angle and let it set in a small bowl. The jar (on it's side) is longer than the bowl is wide, so that keeps the jar tipped so that all the water can drain out of it. The netting, of course, keeps the grains in the jar, but allows the water to drain.
You can eat the sprouts at any time throughout this process. Taste them at different times and see how you like them. Some like them best just right after the initial soaking. I usually like mine about a day later. You can continue this process as long as you like, but eventually you will have grass.
When the sprouts reach the point that you like them best, move them to the refrigerator. This doesn't stop the sprouting process completely, but it does slow it down drastically.
One more note about sprouting. You can also sprout beans.
My mother taught us that if you sprout the beans before making chili, it takes the gas out of them. Now that's useful information!
Thanks Mom!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Toquerville Trails Turkey Trot 2009
This Thanksgiving morning, on November 26th, 2009, anyone in the vicinity of Southern Utah is invited to come to Toquerville. We have a 'Turkey Trot' that is just so much fun, you might not believe it.
This is not a wimpy road race. It is a trail run, on rocky and sandy southern Utah desert trails.
It has been called 'the hardest 3 mile run ever'.
Even so, it continues to grow in popularity. I decided to put the entry form into pdf form and make it available on the internet. You can get it HERE.
You can also get it from Classic Sports, located in Hurricane Utah, at 1141 W. State Street.
You need to register by November 13th to be guaranteed a T-shirt. You can also register the morning of the race, from 8:45 to 9:15AM. The race starts at 10:00AM.
There are two races. A short one (1.7 miles) and a long one (3.0 miles). They run at the same time.
Come and have a great Thanksgiving Day morning. We will help you work up an appetite for later in the day.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Health Basic Missed By Many Nutritionists
I understand why they make the mistake, but it is most unfortunate.
It is natural to start from where you are, and it's a good idea to do so. Where else would you start from? But when you are looking at what is optimal nutrition, you need to start from an optimal position. The optimal position to start from in regards to human nutrition, is whole grains fresh from the fields.
You see, because grains in our modern world have mostly been processed and destroyed before being put into our food products, they have been made very unhealthy for us. That is why many nutritionists will tell people to avoid grains in their diet. Unfortunately that is a very big mistake.
Whole grains, that have not be processed to death, should be the base of your food supply. Grains do wonderful things for the body that have often been overlooked. They contain lots of fiber, which we now know is key to good health. They contain the essential amino acids for building healthy bodies. Grains contain the best kinds of carbohydrates for fueling the body. They contain many vitamins and minerals.
Whole grains are digested slowly, thereby giving you long term energy. This slower digestion also has several other advantages that have only more recently began to be understood. Besides being good for helping to keep blood sugar levels balanced, it helps to balance the pH of the body.
Wheat in particular is very balancing for the body. It even contains a combination of proteins, carbs, and fats, that help to balance and maintain healthy intestinal flora. Thereby helping your digestion to be more efficient, and allowing you to get more of the nutrients from the foods you eat.
One of the more recent discoveries that you may find interesting is that whole grains contain just as many antioxidants as most fruits and vegetables. These antioxidants had not be recognized previously because of the method used to measure antioxidants in food. It turns out that the whole grains kind of act like time-release capsules for antioxidants. As the grains digest, they gradually release the antioxidants into your system. Thus you have a sustained antioxidant effect over a longer period of time. That is definitely good for your body.
Grains are the ideal base for a healthy diet. They also store very well, so that you can stock a supply for years without worrying about them going bad.
I strongly suggest that you base your diet on whole grains. Buy whole grains. They are very inexpensive and are easily used at home for healthy meals. They are delicious, and even more nutritious when they are sprouted. Sprouting grains is very easy! Or you can just soak whole grains overnight for a delicious breakfast cereal in the morning.
I perhaps should mention one other mistake that many people make in regard to grains. There is a saying, that has been repeated many times, to the effect that farmers feed their livestock grains to fatten them up. This simply is not true. Grains are used to promote health and vigor. Yes, grains give animals what they need to grow and mature and produce. But if a farmer really wants to fatten animals just before going to market, he feeds them polyunsaturated fats.
Grains are natures time-release capsules to give health promoting nutrition to the body. They are fairly low in fat. But our ancestors ate them with raw milk and eggs, thereby enhancing the effects with good and healthy fats.
So just remember that when a nutritionist speaks negatively about grains, they are only speaking of processed, denatured grain by-products. Whole grains are some of the best nutrition you can get.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
8 Rules of Healthy Living (With Elimination List)
I just know you all want to print it out and live by it! :-)
8 Rules of Healthy Living
(With Elimination List)
1. Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. (Aim for 90% of your diet, with 80% raw) Try to make wheat your foundation. Dark leafy greens are particularly important.
2. Work up to exercising at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
3. Stop as many toxins as you can from entering your body. (See elimination list below)
4. Forgive.
5. Give thanks.
6. Give service to others with a cheerful smile.
7. Drink plenty of good clean water. (Your weight in pounds divided by 10 is the minimum number of cups of water you should get each day.) Be sure to get minerals, including trace-minerals with water.
8. Try to get to sleep 2 to 3 hours before midnight each night.
They say variety is the spice of life. Variety is also the foundation of good health.
If you eat a variety of whole natural foods you will get all the nutrients you need.
If you do a variety of exercises you can get all the muscles and joints of your body active and strong in all the different directions of motion.
If you eliminate all variety of toxins your body can rebuild cleanly.
If you forgive for all variety of offenses, you can let go of all sorts of pain.
If you show gratitude in all things, and serve others in many ways, you can always be happy.
However, you should hardly ever vary from your daily minimum consumption of water(body weight in pounds/10 cups each day) or from getting a good nights rest.
These are simple rules, that if truly followed will bring great blessings into your life.
Coach G. (For more details see http://garnerhealth.blogspot.com ) Email : CoachG@ghl.zzn.com
Elimination List: (Eliminate as many of these from your lifestyle as possible. No particular order.) Suggested alternatives are in italics.
1. White Flour (Dead food, like glue to the system, drains the body of nutrients) Grind your own.
2. Processed Sugar (Destroys immune function, and the body's ability to rebuild) Use Raw Honey.
3. Table Salt (even if the label says "Sea Salt") Redmond's RealSalt is good to use.
4. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS is toxic to the human body in any amount)
5. Hydrogenated Oils (any hydrogenated oil, even partially hydrogenated oils)(Toxic in any amount)
6. Artificial colors, flavors and sugars (especially Aspartame and Splenda)(Toxic in any amount)
7. MSG (MonoSodiumGlutamate)
8. Anti-inflammatory drugs (over the counter pain medicines) Use eggs, wheat, Vitamin C, coconut oil, and water to control inflammation.
9. Drugs of all kinds. (This includes most supplements.) Instead use whole tonic herbs, or Vitamin C.
10. Soy products (toxic, deters protein digestion, depresses thyroid[growth], slows mineral absorption)
11. Microwaving Food (microwaved food is molecularly changed, and contributes to cancer)
12. Meats loaded with Hormones and Antibiotics (Most meat that you didn't grow or hunt yourself)
13. Pasturized & Homogenized Milk (Store bought milk) Raw milk is very good for your health.
14. Alcohol and Tobacco (of course)(toxins)
15. Most Processed Vegetable Oils, including Canola (toxins) Use Olive Oil or Coconut Oil instead.
16. GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)(Nearly all corn or soy is GMO these days)
Saturday, September 05, 2009
"Sunning" Your Eyes
One of the problems with many vision troubles is that the eyes become extra sensitive to light. Wearing dark glasses to accommodate for this, results in even more light sensitivity.
One of the best things that you can do daily, to help to heal and improve your vision, is to "Sun" your eyes. This will help the eyes to become accustomed to light, and believe it or not, can actually lead to the correction of some vision problems.
Sunning your eyes is done by going outside without glasses on. I suggest doing this in the morning, shortly after the Sun comes up. Find a relaxed position with your body facing directly toward the Sun. With your eyes closed, tilt your head so that IF your eyes were open, you could look straight ahead, and see the sun directly in front of you. Keeping your eye lids closed, slowly rotate your head back and forth from side to side. Try to achieve full range of motion, but without stress. Try to keep your head, face and eyes relaxed.
Try to do this for 5 minutes. Depending on how sensitive your eyes are, you may not be able to do it for that long initially. Just work up to it gradually. If you do a slow head turn that takes about 3 seconds to go from one side to the other, then count 100 of those turns. That will be about 5 minutes.
You will most likely 'see' red, orange, and yellow. The goal is to do this long enough to actually 'see' white'. When you see white, your eyes are relaxed and adjusted to the light. Of course, it isn't a pure white, it's an off white, because you are 'looking' through your eye lids.
This is just one exercise that can help to improve eye-sight. There are others that, when combined with this one, can help unhealthy eyes return to health and good vision.
There are also more advanced versions of 'Sunning'.
Other important eye skills are 'blinking', 'pumping', 'pin point focus', 'palming', 'blurring', and 'swinging'.
Go HERE to learn more.
Or you could try to find the original book by Dr. Bates.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Basic Rules For Health And Wellness
There is no need for a big book with a step by step program and recipes. You just need some common sense and to be able to recognize the true weight behind the different ideas and studies you will see reported in the media.
One reason that it has been easier for me than it is for some others is because I accept the premise that there is a God that created this earth specifically for the use and benefit of mankind. I could go into all the reasons why I accept that, but suffice it to say that the evidence is overwhelming for that conclusion. No matter how many people may try to persuade you otherwise, the evidence in science, philosophy, mathematics, religion, history, or spiritualism is much more dependable and logical for the existence of a creator than against it.
The simple fact is that the earth was made for mankind, and mankind was made for the earth. Once you understand that, it is so simple to see that the natural foods placed for us here on the earth are the best ways for us to remain healthy. That is not to say that anything found naturally on the earth is necessarily beneficial to all mankind. But we are to use our intelligence to learn and to grow and to have both negative and positive experiences.
The foods that mankind has learned are good to eat are always more life- and health-giving if we eat them in their whole, natural state. Modern mankind has made the sad mistake of deciding to cook and/or otherwise process most -if not all- of what we eat. In so doing, we have destroyed much of the health-sustaining properties of our food. On top of that, the foods that we do tend to eat without cooking, we have contaminated with pesticides and other man-made chemicals that are also detrimental to health.
One of the interesting things that you see as you review study after study after study is that the more we try to break food down into its separate elements to find out which parts we can use to cause health, the more we discover that the raw, natural food as a whole is much better at balancing the systems of the body and avoiding an over-stimulus in any one area.
Looking at study after study, it can become mind-blowing just how ignorant we are of the natural goodness that is built into the grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables that the earth provides for us.
Another amazing thing that you see is that every time raw, natural, pesticide-free food is used as the major or sole source of food for people, they become much healthier and stronger than when they ate man-made, processed foods.
The basic rules for health and wellness all come down to doing what is right for mankind.
1. Eat a variety of good, wholesome foods (raw whenever possible).
2. Drink good clean water.
3. Exercise regularly (ideally six days a week).
4. Rest regularly. One day a week lay off the hard physical labors, and get a good nights sleep every night.
5. Breathe (deeply) plenty of good, clean air. The best way to breathe deeply is to make sure that you blow out as much air as possible when you exhale.
6. Get good doses of sunshine regularly.
7. Think positive, happy thoughts as often as possible. That often comes from helping your fellowman.
8. Give thanks sincerely and regularly.
That's it! Those are the basics that have been proven time and time again in test after test as well as in common sense. Of course we could fill in much more detail as to what things are better for given times and situations, but the basics are still simple. If we all just followed the basics there would be much less disease and sorrow in this world.
Follow the basics and have a great life!
Just eat a high quality natural foods diet, exercise, drink plenty of good clean water, make sure you get fiber (whole raw foods), get plenty of sleep, breathe deeply and have a gratitude attitude.
Your body will take care of you, if you take care of it.
Coach G.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
The Sun : The True Story
It also has many other health benefits.
Sleeping is better regulated when you get regular sun exposure.
Vision improves with exposure to sunshine.
Your body's best source of Vitamin D is from sunshine.
So why do so many people hide from the sun? Well, we've been told, by people who are supposed to know, that the sun is dangerous.
We hide behind hats, glasses, sunscreens, long-sleeve shirts, etc.
On a major news source the other day, they interviewed a mother who was a skin cancer survivor. She also happened to be a dermatologist. It was so sad to see how phobic this lady has become of the Sun. She uses all kinds of sunscreen and sunblock sprays and lotions, both on herself and her children. Then even after that, they must wear hats and long sleeves.
She testified as to how dangerous the Sun is. She knows, because she treats people regularly who have skin problems caused by the Sun. How does she know they were caused by the Sun? Well, we know that the Sun is radiation, and that some forms of radiation on the skin cause free-radicals. Free-radicals cause destruction. The Sun is always around, doing it's thing. So it must be the cause. Simple logic.
But if the Sun causes skin cancer, then why are there so many people who spend lots of time in the Sun, but don't get cancer? We are supposed to believe that they have 'lucky genes'.
If you have followed my writing for very long, you know that genetics is one of the very weakest links for health problems. For more on genetics, go HERE.
If bright sunlight is bad for your eyes, then why do people "Sun" their eyes to improve their vision?
The truth is that the Sun is very good for your health. Sun exposure helps you to sleep better at night. Sun exposure helps the eyes to be healthier. Sun exposure causes the body to make the very best kind of vitamin D, which is proving to be an important nutrient to avoid many diseases.
What are we missing? As always, the key to healthy living is a healthy lifestyle.
As with anything else, Sunshine can be dangerous if overdone or done badly. For instance staring directly into the midday Sun with your eyes opened can burn your eyes. But if you "Sun" your eyes regularly with your eyes closed most of the time, it can be a great boon to your vision.
If you spend lots of time in the sun, but your diet and skin care practices aren't adjusted for it, then you can get bad sun burns, which can contribute to the eventual development of cancer. But if you eat well (including lots of healthy fats), and use coconut oil on your skin regularly, you can spend much of each day in the Sun and not have any problems.
Coconut oil, used both internally and externally, helps the body to use the goodness of the Sun without negative side effects. Note that coconut oil should be applied on the skin about 20 minutes before going out into direct sunlight, so that it has a chance to soak into the skin. You don't want fresh oil sitting on top of the skin with a hot summer Sun beating down on it. I'm sure you have heard of boiling in oil. But once the skin has absorbed most of the oil, it is protected, and the oil in the skin actually helps the sun to create vitamin D in the body.
Lack of sunshine is just as dangerous as too much.
So many people with depression would be helped immensely just by getting more sunshine.
The sun helps to boost the immune system to fight off colds or infections.
Wearing dark glasses all the time, desensitizes your eyes to light. Thus leading to poorer vision.
Constantly wearing sunscreens or sunblocks keeps you from forming that very important vitamin D. It also keeps you from forming as many free-radicals, which actually are an important part of the immune system. Not to mention the damage that can be done to your body by many of the chemicals that are used in those sprays and lotions. The chemicals are actually much more likely to contribute to cancer than the Sun.
Even if you are "Sun-phobic", try to get at least 10 minutes of Sun each day on bare skin.
The Sun is not a curse, but a blessing! Use it wisely.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Anemia And Iron
That is what we have all been led to believe. That is what the doctors have learned, and passed on to us.
But anemia means to be low on blood, generally a reduction of red blood cells. This can be caused by three things. Excessive bleeding, excessive death of red blood cells, or a decrease in the bodies ability to make red blood cells.
Note that any of those three conditions can exist at the same time that you can have an over abundance of iron in the body.
In fact it turns out that most of us, even those who are anemic, have an abundance of iron in our systems. It is simply a matter of getting the systems in balance so that they will use the available iron, along with other resources, to keep our red blood cells functioning the way they should.
Balanced systems will also help to rid us of the excess iron that so many of us get from today's environment. Excess iron can be very dangerous to your bodies health.
I suggest that you read these questions and answers from a biologist and physiologist about the dangers of too much iron in your system (a very common condition in today's world).
Remember that balance in the human body is achieved through healthy lifestyle choices. Whole, natural, unprocessed foods help the body to balance. Of particular importance is whole grain wheat, lots of water, and moderate exercise.
I also suggest virgin coconut oil be used to replace all vegetable oils in your diet. This will help to correct hormonal imbalances that contribute to anemia, as well as many other diseases.
If you don't know where to get coconut oil, click HERE.
