Showing posts with label organic foods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label organic foods. Show all posts

Saturday, February 2, 2008

----THE REST OF THE STORY

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**************THE REST OF THE STORY*******************************
I used to hunt thru' old books on herbal cures and newer publications for hints of old remedies.

I'd get junk mail with headlines like:
~LOWER YOUR BLOOD SUGAR WITH A COMMON HERB FROM YOUR CUPBOARD.see pg 345
~WHAT OLD-FASHIONED 'MEDICINE' WILL GET RID OF THOSE ACHES AND PAINS? see page 421
~LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL LEVELS WITH THESE EASY TO TAKE COMMON FOODS.see page 112

Now all of those are a come-on to get you to buy their book, but I'll tell you how to do all of those things for free and give you the whole story, because none of those things are a real cure, they are mere hints of tiny helps to point you in the right direction to getting healthy. No, I didn't say healthier, I said Healthy, AND IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

First to answer the three questions from the junk mail, it is cinnamon, cod lover oil, Garlic and onions. But There is so much more to tell about each one, it's not just sprinkle a bitty bit of cinnamon on your morning toast, for instance, it requires about a teaspoon. And make sure your cinnamon is pure. Your body won't thank you for loading up on pesticide-laden spices, nor Genetically modified foods or, highly processed ones, If your cinnamon has been cooked or irradiated it might be worthless......

Here is anther tip for lowering blood glucose, I juice three stalks of celery per day it really takes the blood sugar levels down quickly. I eat a protein breakfast with an apple snack so I'm balancing my food groups without a lot of counting and bother, I'm doing a lo-carb, emphasis on raw veggie/fruits. I'm doing a purifying diet this week so we'll see how it goes. I know I feel so much better eating very little, I also know I may be terribly hungry but it's only a week, but then it might stretch out more....

I hear people [oh yes and myself] wingeing about oh I'll miss my "this food" or "that food", "I can't give up my pizza." "I love sweets way too much to quit eating cake[insert your favorite here]". "I just can't go without my MSG laden foods, they taste so good."

But we [yes, I include myself in this] can make this decision. Will I cut down on the bad stuff, even cut it out to live? Will I rather be puking my guts up and running to the bathroom with diarrhea every few minutes with Chemo-therapy or radiation as I watch my self slip away,[oh no, it's not a pleasant death I assure you] or see my body turn into one huge pain factory? Would I rather spend my last five years drooling on myself at the mercy of strangers in a wheel chair?

My parents [both sets] died after prolonged illnesses [prolonged means it took a
lo-o-ong time to die BTW] they all had Cancer, my adoptive parents and my birth/step parents in great pain and heartache. My step-father hurt so bad the last few weeks he cried constantly. My birth mother, who was also diabetic and had refused to deal properly with her diabetes [her home was filled with candy goodies, when I cleaned it up after she died] lay in a hospital bed surrounded by filth, [a bad nursing home] she finally contracted MRSA, was too weak to fight it and knew nothing but pain her final five weeks. She had wizened up to a tiny frail bald thing, in her bed the last time I saw her.

So, here's the thing. Either we accept that life is worth living, oh; and the healthier food actually tastes better when you've lost the toxins from the
modern-diet foods,and we make a change towards healthier foods, and the change can be as gradual as you'd like; depending on, of course how sick you really are.

Diabetic help
(1)
=>Eating in a way that balances your blood sugar, reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and improves your liver detoxification is the key to preventing and reversing insulin resistance and diabetes.

=>It is a way of eating that includes anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and detoxifying foods. It includes plenty of omega-3 fats and olive oil, beans, nuts, and seeds.

=>All these foods help prevent and reverse diabetes and insulin resistance. This is the way of eating than turns on all the right gene messages, promotes a healthy metabolism, and prevents aging and age-related diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Here are more specifics.

Meal Timing

Eat protein for breakfast every day, such as whole omega-3 eggs, a soy protein shake, or nut butters
Eat something every 4 hours to keep your insulin and glucose levels normal
Eat small protein snacks in the morning and afternoon, such as a handful of almonds
Finish eating at least 2 to 3 hours before bed. If you have a snack earlier in the day, you won’t be as hungry, even if you eat a little later

Meal Composition

=>Controlling the glycemic load of your meals is very important
You can do this by combining adequate protein, fats, and whole-food carbohydrates from vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and fruit at every meal or snack
It is most important to avoid eating quickly absorbed carbohydrates alone, as they raise your sugar and insulin levels

Travel Suggestions

=>Two handfuls of almonds in a zip-lock bag make a useful emergency snack. You can eat them with a piece of fruit. Remember, real food is the best.
Choose from a variety of the following real, whole foods:

=>Choose organic produce and animal products whenever possible.

=>Eat high-quality protein, such as fish -- especially fatty, cold-water fish like salmon, sable, small halibut, herring, and sardines -- and shellfish.
Cold-water fish such as salmon, halibut, and sable contain an abundance of beneficial essential fatty acids, omega-3 oils that reduce inflammation. Smaller wild Alaskan salmon, sable, and halibut that are low in toxins. Canned wild salmon is a great “emergency” food.
Eat up to eight [omega-3] eggs a week.

=>Create meals that are high in low-glycemic legumes such as lentils, chickpeas These foods slow the release of sugars into the bloodstream, which helps prevent the excess insulin release that can lead to health concerns like obesity, high blood pressure, and heart problems.

=>Eat a cornucopia of fresh fruits and vegetables teeming with phytonutrients like carotenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols, which are associated with a lower incidence of nearly all health problems, including obesity and age-related disease.

=>Eat more low-glycemic vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli, kale, spinach, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.

=>Berries, cherries, peaches, plums, rhubarb, pears, and apples are optimal fruits. Cantaloupes and other melons, grapes, and kiwifruit are suitable; however, they contain more sugar. You can use organic frozen berries (such as those from Cascadian Farms) in your protein shakes.

=>Focus on anti-inflammatory foods, including wild fish and other sources of omega-3 fats, red and purple berries (these are rich in polyphenols), dark green leafy vegetables, orange sweet potatoes, and nuts.

=>Eat more antioxidant-rich foods, including orange and yellow vegetables, dark green leafy vegetables (kale, collards, spinach, etc.), anthocyanidins (berries, beets, grapes, pomegranate), purple grapes, blueberries, bilberries, cranberries, and cherries. In fact, antioxidants are in all colorful fruits and vegetables.

=>Include detoxifying foods in your diet, such as cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, bok choy, Chinese cabbage, and Chinese broccoli), green tea, watercress, dandelion greens, cilantro, artichokes, garlic, citrus peels, pomegranate, and even cocoa.

=>Season your food with herbs such as rosemary, ginger, and turmeric, which are powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and detoxifiers.
Avoid excessive quantities of meat.

=>Eat lean organic or grass-fed animal products, when possible. These include eggs, beef, chicken, pork, lamb, buffalo, and ostrich.


I even was able to buy Buffalo meat at Safeway for a while. I'm hoping to raise my own chickens in the near future.

This source claimed that eating soybean products is good for you but I must demur here. see Soy; healthfood or hazard?

I personally have found I'm also sensitive to grains so I've eliminated them from my diet. Dr. Hyman recommends eating rye as it will help normalize Insulin resistance, but I ate two slices of rye toast for breakfast for years without much help, but it might be a good thing for someone else....I am on a very lo-carb diet anyway so I'm not eating any bread.

THE GOOD NEWS- You don't have to give up fat, yes, you heard it right, the scientists have it all wrong, well no trans fats for sure, but the saturated and polyunsaturated fats are realy good for you, remember the Essential fatty acids? We do need lots of it[did you know our brains are made up of mostly fat?]. Truly I kid you not. BUT eliminate all those vegetable oils they say are good for you, they are not. I use only coconut oil, and if I want a salad olive oil for dressing, [I never heat up any oil except for coconut oil], all others become toxic when heated.

I continue to take the following which are really helping me to heal:
CellPower™ to cover the basics, also
FLAX SEED OIL for my colon, but of course
~Glutathione-the master antioxidant is a great helper to counteract many diabetic complications.
~4 essential minerals for diabetics
~SELENIUMhelps immune system,fights infection and aids circulation
~MAGNESIUMhelps to relax you, aids stress and muscle relaxing
~CHROMIUMimproves insulin sensitivity, and helps lower blood sugar.
~ZINC especially to help you heal.
~coconut oil


for the Omega-3~6 balance and losing weight.

Also I really have to give you one little miracle I know to be true: Cinnamon, but it needs to be pure and at least a teaspoon per meal to do any good. It really lowers my blood glucose levels. OH AND SO DOES CELERY, EAT LOTS OF CELERY!
*************************************
Be sure to check out my new favorite interactive health message group healthwatch
Write to me at Webriter@verizon.net or use the comment or chat features. I do appreciate the feedback even if it’s negative, Christian Biblical stories
Natural herbal remedies
blessings

-----THE GARDEN GNOME


~~~Jokes And inspirations~~~
Thought: Why does man kill? He kills for food.
And not only food: frequently there must be a
beverage.
-- Woody Allen

There are no such things as applied sciences,
only applications of science.
-- Louis Pasteur

Advertising is the modern substitute for
argument; its function is to make the worse appear the
better.
-- George Santayana

How much easier it is to be critical than to be
correct.
-- Benjamin Disraeli,
~~~
**inspiration**
GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.
He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, "Are you there, God?" he said. "Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed..."
I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.
He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2); there are few ways in which he is an adult.
He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.
I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?
Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni and cheese for dinner, and later to bed.
The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.
He does not seem dissatisfied.
He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.
He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.
And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. "That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.
His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.
And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.
He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.
His life is simple.
He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.
His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.
He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.
He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.
He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.
Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.
Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an "educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.
In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.
It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.
It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.
Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.
And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.
Kevin won't be surprised at all!
~~~
CATHOLIC HORSES

One day while he was at the track playing the ponies and all but losing his shirt, Mitch noticed a priest who stepped out onto the track and blessed the forehead of one of the horses lining up for the 4th race.
Lo and behold, that horse - a very long shot - won the race.
Before the next race, as the horses began lining up, Mitch watched with interest the old priest step onto the track. Sure enough, as the 5th race horses came to the starting gate the priest made a blessing on the forehead of one of the horses.
Mitch made a beeline for a betting window and placed a small bet on the horse. Again, even though it was another long shot, the horse the priest had blessed won the race.
Mitch collected his winnings, and anxiously waited to see which horse the priest would bless for the 6th race. The priest again blessed a horse.
Mitch bet big on it, and it won. Mitch was elated. As the races continued the priest kept blessing long shot horses, and each one ended up coming in first.
Bye and bye, Mitch was pulling in some serious money. By the last race, he knew his wildest dreams were going to come true. He made a quick dash to the ATM, withdrew all his savings, and awaited the priest's blessing that
would tell him which horse to bet on.
True to his pattern, the priest stepped onto the track for the last race and blessed the forehead of an old nag that was the longest shot of the day. Mitch also observed the priest blessing the eyes, ears, and hooves of the old nag.
Mitch knew he had a winner and bet every cent he owned on the old nag. He then watched dumbfounded as the old nag come in dead last. Mitch, in a state of shock, made his way down to the track area where the priest was.
Confronting the old priest he demanded, "Father! What happened? All day long you blessed horses and they all won. Then in the last race, the horse you blessed lost by a Kentucky mile. Now, thanks to you I've lost every cent of my savings - all of it!".
The priest nodded wisely and with sympathy. "Son," he said, "that's the problem with you Protestants, you can't tell the difference between a simple blessing and last rites."
~~~
Ancient Artifact?

A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination, looking at the old pages as he turned them. Then something fell out of the Bible and he picked up and looked at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree. The leaf had been pressed in between pages. "Momma, look what I found", the boy called out. "What have you got there, dear?" his mother asked. With astonishment in the young boy's voice he answered: "It's Adam's suit!!!!!"
~~~
A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk
With him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.
So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school
In the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.
The neighbor said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor boy he knew. She did this for the whole week.
As the boys walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally he said to Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?"
Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, I know who she is."
The friend said, "Well, who is she?"
"That's just Shirley Goodnest," Timmy replied, "and her daughter Marcy."
" Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? "
"Well," Timmy explained, "every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, ' Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my
Life, so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!"
~~~
I wish you a day filled with sunshine and inexplicable joy, a Healthy life and happy family.


SOURCES
(1)http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog/type-2-diabetes,

Friday, January 4, 2008

ORGANIC-WHAT IS IT?

We always hear that buying organic is best; what is organic, and how can you know if something we buy is really organic, especially since we've all seen the headlines proclaiming the abuses from food and beauty products being falsely labeled organic?

Of course all of our food is basically organic, it is carbon-based and was once alive. That makes it organic, but what is the labeling "organic"?

(1)
The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:
Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.


From the FDA:
(2)
All agricultural products labeled organic must originate from farms or handling operations certified by a state or private agency accredited by USDA. Farms and handling operations that sell less than $5,000 worth per year of organic agricultural products are exempt from certification. Farmers and handlers have 18 months to comply with the national standards.


But "organic" doesn't always mean grown naturally:
(3)
USDA regulations prohibit the use of toxic synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, irradiation, sewage sludge and genetic engineering in anything labeled organic. Farmers are also required to pasture livestock, refrain from treating them with antibiotics and hormones and sustain them only with organic food.
Though these standards work well most of the time, not everybody is playing by the rules. “Ninety-nine percent of the organic market is clean,” said Minowa. “(But) there are a few abusers out there.” Unfortunately, it is those few companies that could have an impact on how well the organic standards are followed.
In 2006, the Organic Consumer’s Association boycotted the “shameless seven,” organic suppliers using practices that don’t conform to organic standards. Minowa said that the abuse of standards happens because there’s a breakdown occurring at the national level, where key decision makers are dragging their feet on closing organic standard loopholes.
One loophole is vague as to what qualifies as pasture, or the period cows should be allowed access to pasture. Under the current regulations, a short walk from a confined feeding area to the loading trucks could be counted as access. Brands such as Horizon and Aurora, two major producers of organic dairy products, are taking advantage of vague standards that apply to organic dairy, Minowa said. They sell milk labeled USDA Organic to consumers even though some or all of their milk is coming from factory farm feedlots where animals do not have proper access to pasture...{Also]Though organic food is typically more expensive than conventional food, major chains like Wal-Mart are offering organic foods at prices much lower than found in specialty stores. Wal-Mart is able to do this through economies of scale, but another tactic the big-box retailer uses is to purchase organic food from abroad. Minowa explained that it is not that U.S. farmers aren’t able to meet the growing demands of the organic food market, but that those who want to sell organic food at a bargain price can get it cheaper elsewhere.
Cheaper prices mean more people buy organic food, but organic food producers from other countries may not always abide by U.S. standards, said Betty Kanane, president of the Global Organics Alliance, a third party certifier of domestic organic foods.
Recently, investigations have been launched into companies that claim the food they have imported from China is organic when it isn’t, according to Andy LeVoir, produce manager of the East Lansing Food Co-op.


more excesses and abuses:
(4)
Organic Fraud: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Accused of Widespread Distortion
Nonorganic Food Products Misidentified as “Organic”
Contact: Mark Kastel, 608-625-2042
CORNUCOPIA, WI: When the staff at The Cornucopia Institute surveyed Wal-Mart stores around the country last September, analyzing the giant retailer’s pronouncement that they would begin selling a wide variety of organic food at just a 10% mark-up over similar conventional products, they were surprised to discover widespread problems with signage misrepresenting nonorganic food as “organic.”
Now, Cornucopia, one of the country’s most prominent organic watchdogs is even more surprised that more than four months after informing the company of the problems, which could be interpreted as consumer fraud, and two months after filing a formal legal complaint with the USDA, the federal agency regulating organic labeling, many of the deceptive signs at Wal-Mart stores are still in place.
“It is unconscionable that rather than correct these problems, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. instead responded to our concerns by attacking our comparatively modest public interest group in an effort to discredit our organization in the media,” said Mark Kastel, codirector of the Wisconsin-based Institute. “It is not as if a product recall or store remodeling would have been required to correct Wal-Mart’s deceptive consumer practices. They could have simply sent out an e-mail to store managers and corrected the problem instantly.” see: http://cornucopia.org/index.php/mislabeling-organic-food-at-wal-mart/ to see pictures of falsly labeled foods sold at Wa-mart-SHAME ON YOU WAL-MART!


(5)
Consumer Tip: The word "organic" is not as carefully regulated on personal care products (example: toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, makeup, etc.) as it is on food products-- UNLESS you see the "USDA Organic" seal. Only then do you know that the product has met the stringent federal organic regulations.

If the product does not have the seal and claims to be organic, it may have some organic ingredients, but it also likely has many nonorganic and synthetic ingredients. Our first piece of advice is to look for the USDA Organic seal. If you don't see that, be sure to read the ingredient label before purchasing.


"Organic" and genetically modified foods
(5)
Five of the twelve companies stated that the provisions they take to ensure their suppliers are not mixing genetically altered soybeans with ordinary soybeans is that they buy third party certified organic beans. Third party certification is when an independent agent inspects the farm and grounds. The farmer keeps records and a fee is paid for inspection. Certification is done by an agent who has been accredited by a certification agency. Two representatives stated that they receive written confirmation from their suppliers that they are not using GMOs. A general feeling of trust for growers and suppliers was expressed. Several companies said that they had worked with their suppliers for 15 to 20 years and felt they were similarly against genetically engineered foods.
Other companies (such as Wor-thington Foods) are either knowingly using genetically engineered soybeans or are using possibly tainted beans. The representative from Tofutti Brands, Inc. argued it was getting more difficult to secure their sources as GMOs are in widespread use. He said that GMOs are also very cost effective and that companies engineering them “drive everyone else out of business.”


So the bottom line is the bottiom line and our digestive tracks and indeed our complete health is compromised because someone gets to make more money that way.

In order to maintain my health, I do my best to use only whole locally grown foods, Mostly Chicken wild caught fish and vegetables, I also supplement-I am taking:
CellPower™ it makes over 34 quarts of healthy supplement to cover the basics, it is keeping my body in a normal Aklaline pH state, killing off viruses, bacteria, fungi, it also supp;ies some of the enzymes I need for great health and it is giving me energy. Also
~FLAX SEED OIL for my colon, but of course
~Glutathione-the master antioxidant is a great helper to counteract many diabetic complications.
I've also added D-3
Swanson Home Page
five caps per day to ward off the evil colds and flus And Silica too; also from Swanson's.
~4 essential minerals for diabetics
~SELENIUMhelps immune system,fights infection and aids circulation
~MAGNESIUMhelps to relax you, aids stress and muscle relaxing
~CHROMIUMimproves insulin sensitivity, and helps lower blood sugar.
~ZINC especially to help you heal.
~coconut oil


for the Omega-3~6 balance and losing weight
*************************************
Be sure to check out my new favorite interactive health message group Heath and Nutrition
Write to me at Webriter@verizon.net or use the comment or chat features. I do appreciate the feedback even if it’s negative, Christian Biblical stories
Natural herbal remedies
NEW Health watchers CHATROOM CLICK HERE



-----THE GARDEN GNOME

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
*********************************ALERT********************************************
I now have a digest version of this blog going to be sent out once a week.

The link for receiving the digest is: Natural health Watchit is interactive so people can comment on the articles and help me get ideas for other articles. Or you can simply sign up by writing to me at webriter@verizon.net or mark_my_bailey@yahoo.com.

I hope to have a fun new real-time chatroom running but only if people will help me by scheduling times to be there the new chatroom is healthchat contact my email addresses webriter@verizon.net or mark_my_bailey@yahoo.com

~~~Jokes and Inspiration~~~
Addicted to Coffee

You know you are addicted to coffee if ...

You grind your coffee beans in your mouth.

You sleep with your eyes open.

You have to watch videos in fast-forward.

The only time you're standing still is during an earthquake.

You can take a picture of yourself from ten feet away without using the timer.

You've worn out your third pair of tennis shoes this week.

Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.

You chew on other people's fingernails.

The nurse needs a scientific calculator to take your pulse.

You're so jittery that people use your hands to blend their margaritas.

You can type sixty words per minute with your feet.

You can jump-start your car without cables.

You don't sweat, you percolate.

You walk twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize it's not plugged in.

You forget to unwrap candy bars before eating them.

You've built a miniature city out of little plastic stirrers.

People get dizzy just watching you.

Instant coffee takes too long.

You channel surf faster without a remote.

You have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.

You can outlast the Energizer bunny.

You short out motion detectors.

You don't even wait for the water to boil anymore.

Your nervous twitch registers on the Richter scale.

You help your dog chase its tail.

You soak your dentures in coffee overnight.

Your first-aid kit contains two pints of coffee with an I.V. hookup.

You ski uphill.

You get a speeding ticket even when you're parked.

You answer the door before people knock.

You haven't blinked since the last lunar eclipse.
~~~
the 3-legged dog who walked into a bar and said "I'm looking for the man who shot my pa".
~~~
Q. How do you turn a duck into a soul singer?
A. Put it in the oven until its bill withers

~~~
Committee--a group of men who individually can do
nothing but as a group decide that nothing can
be done.
-- Fred Allen

There's a fine line between genius and insanity.
I have erased this line.
-- Oscar Levant

The secret of being a bore is to tell everything.
-- Voltaire, Discours en vers sur

~~~
Two guys are out in the woods hiking.

All of a sudden, a bear starts chasing them. They climb a tree, but the bear starts climbing up the tree after them.

The first guy gets his sneakers out of his knapsack and starts putting them on.

The second guy says, "What are you doing?"

The first guy says, "I figure when the bear gets too close, we'll have to jump down and make a run for it."

The second guy says, "Are you crazy? You can't outrun a bear"!

The first guy says, "I don't have to outrun the bear. I only have to outrun you."
~~~
New Evidence
The day after a verdict had been entered against his client, the lawyer rushed to the judge's chambers, demanding that the case to be reopened, the lawyer argued: "I have new evidence that makes a huge difference in my client's defense."

Judge: "What new evidence could you have?"

Lawyer: "My client has an extra $10,000 and I just found out about it!"

~~~

A lead hardware engineer, a lead software engineer, and their program manager are taking a walk outdoors during their lunch break when they come upon an old brass lamp. They pick it up and dust it off. Poof -- out pops a genie.

"Thank you for releasing me from my lamp-prison. I can grant you 3 wishes. Since there are 3 of you I will grant one wish to each of you."

The hardware engineer thinks a moment and says, "I'd like to be sailing a yacht across the Pacific, racing before the wind, with an all-girl crew."

"It is done", said the Genie, and poof, the hardware engineer disappears.

The software engineer thinks a moment and says, "I'd like to be riding my Harley with a gang of beautiful women throughout the American Southwest."

"It is done", said the Genie, and poof, the software engineer disappears.

The program manager looks at where the other two had been standing and rubs his chin in thought. Then he tells the Genie, "I'd like those two back in the office after lunch."

~~~

The guy approached a beautiful looking woman in a mall and asked, "You know, I've lost my wife here in the mall. Can you talk to me for a couple of minutes?"

"Why?" she asks.

"Because every time I talk to a beautiful woman, my wife appears out of nowhere."

~~~
A Blonde is overweight, so her doctor puts her on a diet. He tells her, "I want you to eat regularly for two days, then skip a day, and repeat the procedure for
two weeks. The next time I see you, you'll have lost at least five pounds."

When the Blonde returns, she's lost nearly 20 pounds. "Why, that's amazing!" the doctor says. "Did you
follow my instructions?" The Blonde nods and answers, "I'll tell you, though, I thought I was going to drop dead that third day." "From hunger, you mean?" asks the doctor. "No", replied the Blonde, "From skipping".
~~~
Have a lovely, blessed and Healthy day.

SOURCES
(1)http://www.organic.org/home/faq#faq1
(2)http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2000/12/0425.htm
(3)http://www.ejmagazine.com/2007b/blurringthelines.html
(4)http://cornucopia.org/index.php/wal-mart-white-paper/
(5)http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/index.cfm
(6)http://www.satyamag.com/march99/sat.56.safe.html

Monday, December 31, 2007

PHYTO POWER- MORE ZIP IN YOUR DIET

I get the magazine EXPERIENCE LIFE and with all the buzz about phytonutrients I wanted to bring it to this forum, ELMag just said it best.

(1)
By Alyssa Ford



Nutrients Beyond Number
Golden Ticket to Great Health
Why Food Is Your Best Source
From Allicin to Zeaxanthin: The Phytonutrient Superstars

Many of us are well aware of macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, protein and fat, as well as micronutrients, such as the vitamins and minerals that are listed on FDA-regulated food labels. But too few of us are familiar with phytochemicals — plant-based micronutrients that offer many health benefits and may help ward off chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

It’s a time-tested truth: Plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, are good for you. But researchers recently have discovered that plant molecules connect with human cells in striking ways. In other words, we’ve known they were good for you — just not this good.

“I don’t think there’s been this much excitement since vitamins and minerals were discovered more than 100 years ago,” says Beverly Clevidence, PhD, the research leader at the USDA-funded Food Components and Health Laboratory in Beltsville, Md.

The discoveries — partly because of the work of the Human Genome Project — are revolutionizing the way we think about food.

In the past 20 years, for example, researchers have discovered that carrots, kale and peanuts are not just plant tissues embedded with vitamins and minerals that are easily encapsulated in multivitamins. Rather, these plant tissues are made up of tens of thousands of phytochemicals (“phyto” is from the Greek phuton, meaning plant).

You’ve probably heard of a few phytochemicals without even knowing what they are. For example, lycopene is a powerful phytonutrient found in tomatoes that helps fight heart disease and a variety of cancers. And the phenols found in strawberries protect against cancer and autoimmune diseases, and help reverse nerve-cell aging. But there are tens of thousands of other phytochemicals about which most of us know nothing. Experts in the nutrition field are buzzing about these chemicals with tongue-twisting names like glucoraphanin, zeaxanthin and saponin.

“This is an epic time,” says Jeffrey Bland, PhD, president of MetaProteomics, a nutrition research facility in Gig Harbor, Wash. “Some of the discoveries we’ve made since 2000 are so profound that the textbook companies can’t keep up with the information. There are brand-new nutrition textbooks out there that aren’t slightly wrong about phytonutrients, they’re totally wrong.”

Nutrients Beyond Number (Back to Top)

When scientists first discovered these mysterious chemicals in the early 1950s, they thought they had found new classes of vitamins. Some were even given names, such as “vitamin P” and “vitamin U.” But on the whole, these chemicals were largely ignored.

“We made the assumption that these tens of thousands of molecules were not useful,” says Bland. “They were considered to be flotsam and jetsam. They were refined out of shelf-stable foods with no worry, because they weren’t ‘essential’ nutrients.”

Technically, those early food manufacturers were right. Phytonutrients are “quasi-nutrients” or “conditionally essential,” meaning that their absence in the body does not cause beriberi, rickets or some other type of deficiency disease. Many nutritionists now believe, however, that a phytonutrient deficiency can lead to conditions much worse than mere scurvy — think chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

As our understanding of these chemicals has increased, so has their number.

The original “vitamin P,” for example, is now known as flavonoids — a phytonutrient subclass that includes more than 4,000 chemicals. And the list continues to grow. In addition to the tens of thousands of phytonutrients, Bland says, there are an undetermined number of classes and subclasses.

“It’s so hard to put a number on it,” he explains. “It’s a constantly changing playing field. One day phytochemists think they’ve got it all worked out, and then suddenly they find a whole new family that previously was not recognized.”

The simple hop plant, for example, has more than 1,000 phytonutrients.

Golden Ticket to Great Health (Back to Top)

As the number of known phytochemicals has multiplied, so has the positive research. Scientists have discovered limonoids that detoxify the liver, phytosterols that block the growth of tumors, isoflavones that help destroy uterine cancer cells and polyphenols that restore lagging immune systems.

These chemicals repair and nourish the body in various ways. The phenols found in black and red berries, grapes, and eggplant, for example, discourage the development of cancer by blocking the conversion of precursor molecules into carcinogens. Saponins, found in foods such as alfalfa and legumes, inhibit the growth of cancer cells by interfering with their DNA. And flavonoids, found in citrus fruits, red wine and dark chocolate, inhibit a chemical called estrogen synthase, an enzyme that binds estrogen to the receptors in several organs and that can lead to breast and uterine cancers.

It starts with the same process: Intercellular transduction. That’s a mouthful, but essentially it means that phytonutrients convey information in the body. During the conversion from plant chemical to human-body booster, a phytonutrient will bind to the receptor sites on individual cells. The cell receives a message via a series of enzymes, which then trigger the genes to express specific patterns.

For example, sulforaphane, a phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and bok choy, helps to boost the body’s detoxification enzymes, which helps us to clear out potentially carcinogenic substances.

Why Food Is Your Best Source (Back to Top)

Eating a diet steeped in fruits, veggies, legumes and other plant-based foods (see “From Allicin to Zeaxanthin: The Phytonutrient Superstars”) is the best way to ensure you’re getting all the phytonutrients your body needs. While there are a growing number of phytonutrient supplements available, many experts warn consumers away from that option.

The big cautionary tale here is beta-carotene. In 1995, it was considered the ultimate panacea. “There was so much good research on beta-carotene,” says David Williams, PhD, a researcher at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University in Corvallis. “We were charting nice correlations between beta-carotene in the blood and lower cancer risk. Basically everybody just assumed that beta-carotene was chemo-protective.”

But to the shock of many in the scientific community, two major clinical trials in 1996 indicated that beta-carotene supplements were not only useless against cancer, but actually increased the risk of cancer in smokers.

“That was one of the first big disappointments, and it made people rethink the idea of going after individual phytochemicals,” says Williams.

Mark Farnham, PhD, a plant geneticist who specializes in phytonutrient research at a USDA facility in Charleston, S.C., concurs that current scientific consensus is now leaning toward emphasizing whole foods, rather than supplements, because plant chemicals seem to interact with one another in powerful ways. “There seems to be a synergistic effect between the chemicals in food,” he explains, noting also that this synergy is very hard to study because plant-based whole foods contain so many different bioactive compounds that it would be almost impossible to separate and study the potential health benefits of individual phytochemicals.

Plus, each chemical seems to have its own quirks. The carote-noids in collard greens, sweet potatoes and tomatoes, for example, are best absorbed if they are chopped, puréed or cooked, and eaten with a little fat, such as olive oil. But the glucosinolates found in cruciferous vegetables are most effective when eaten in their raw state and thoroughly chewed, so the plant cell walls release more of the cancer-fighting chemical. “There’s really no useful rule, because they’re all unique,” says Clevidence.

So eat as many fruits, veggies and other plant-based foods as you can, and be sure to choose foods from all around the color wheel — from ripe red tomatoes to princely eggplant to vivid oranges.

“If on a daily basis you incorporate at least seven different colors, you are much more likely to get a wide variety of these nutrients that are healing, that prevent degenerative disease, and that will go to work on every ? tissue, cell and organ of the body,” says nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, coauthor of The Fat Flush Plan (McGraw-Hill, 2002).

And don’t be afraid to go exotic with your color choices. Unusually hued foods add intrigue to your plate, and researchers at Washington State University have found that those foods can yield health benefits as well. Their 2006 study showed that wildly colored spuds contained more phytonutrients than white-fleshed potatoes.

If you need more motivation to eat your veggies, start a vegetable plot, and then chow down on the fruits of your labor. A 1991 study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education found that vegetable gardeners ate significantly more eggplant, sweet and hot peppers, summer squashes, tomatoes, and herbs than did nongardeners.

It’s also a smart idea to avoid pesticide- and herbicide-drenched produce by going organic. Last year, Bland completed a survey of some 50 organics-related research reports and found that the vast majority of organic produce supported higher levels of phytonutrients.

If vegetables don’t usually appeal to you, consider taking just one vegetable-centered cooking class. It might make all the difference, according to a 2005 study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. After all, what sounds better: Brussels sprouts, or roasted Brussels sprouts with pine nuts and marjoram?

Ultimately, if your strategy for good health has been limited to popping vitamins, consider what you’re missing: a smorgasbord of beneficial phytonutrients found in wonderful, whole, plant-based foods. Besides, real food has been through the most extensive laboratory experiment ever conducted — natural selection. There’s nothing that’s been proven to nourish our bodies quite so well.

Alyssa Ford is a Minneapolis-based writer and editor.


From Allicin to Zeaxanthin: The Phytonutrient Superstars (Back to Top)

There are tens of thousands of phytonutrients within an as-yet-undetermined number of classes and subclasses. Here is a tour of some of the most prominent ones — and a glimpse at how they support our well-being.

****For lack of a table code these should be read as first the ~phytonutrient~ the food sources~ and then help they provide the body.***

~Allicin~ Garlic, onions, jicama~ Eliminating toxins from the body
~Capsaicin~ Cayenne peppers, red peppers~ Preventing toxic molecules from invading cells; reducing inflammation
~Carotenoids~ Carrots, tomatoes, cantaloupe, arugula, spinach, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, Swiss chard, turnip greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, pumpkin, red peppers~ Removing damaging free radicals from the cells, slowing macular degeneration, preventing cataracts, repairing DNA and blocking carcinogens from entering cells
~Catechins~ Green and black teas~ Inhibiting the activation of carcinogens
~Ellagic Acid~ Grapes, strawberries, blackberries, cranberries, walnuts~ Preventing cancer
~Genistein~ Tofu, soymilk, soybeans~ Inhibiting the formation of the blood vessels that help tumors grow FOR VARIOUS REASONS I DO NOT RECOMMEND SOY....
~Indoles and Isothiscyanates~ Collard greens, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage~Blocking carcinogens and interfering with the action of a precancerous form of estrogen
~Isoflavones~ Kudzu, soybeans, peas, peanuts, legumes~ Modulating estrogen levels; preventing breast, uterine and prostate cancers; and reducing the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis
~Lignans~ Seeds and grains, especially flaxseed~ Inhibiting excessive estrogen action, and possibly reducing breast, colon and ovarian cancer
~Limonoids~ Citrus fruit peels~ Clearing congestive mucus from the lungs, detoxifying enzymes in the liver, and supporting detoxification of hormones and other substances that cause cellular decay
~Lycopene~ Tomatoes Fighting heart disease and prostate cancer, plus reducing the risk of stomach, lunh and prostate cancers
~Phenols~ Black and red berries, celery, cabbage, grapes, eggplant, peaches, nectarines~ Preventing cancer, blocking specific enzymes that cause autoimmune diseases, protecting against heart attacks and strokes, preventing platelets in the blood from clumping, reversing nerve-cell aging, and destroying hepatoxins, which damage the liver
~Phytosterols~ Pumpkin, rice, soybeans, yams, all green and yellow vegetables~Blocking "bad" cholesterol uptake, reducing inflammation and blocking the growth of tumors
~Polyphenols~ Buckwheat, wheat germ~ Restoring a lagging immune system
~Saponins~ Alfalfa, legumes~ Lowering cholesterol and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells by interfering with their DNA
~Zeaxanthin~ Kale, daikon, collard greens, green sorrel, arugula~ Enhancing immune function and preventing several types of cancer
******


Although this article seems to imply that cooked veggies are good, don't believe it, raw is best, except for Tomatoes-they hold much of their goodidy goodness when cooked, BUT neither they nor any other veggie is nearly as good if cooked because the enzymes are toast[Pardon the pun].

Also vegetables in processed foods are no longer considered by the body as a recognized food source.

********************************************************************8
I hope to have a digest version of this blog going to be sent out once a week. I hope people will work with me to schedule regular chat times for the chatroom I've created for the exchange of ideas on the best ways to get and stay healthy.

The link for receiving the digest is: Natural health Watchit is interactive so people can comment on the articles and help me get ideas for other articles.
and the new chatroom is healthchat

I the meantime I'm eating lots of raw veggies and fermenting others and also I am taking:
CellPower™ it makes over 34 quarts of healthy supplement to cover the basics, it is keeping my body in a normal Aklaline pH state, killing off viruses, bacteria, fungi, it also supp;ies some of the enzymes I need for great health and it is giving me energy. Also
~FLAX SEED OIL for my colon, but of course
~Glutathione-the master antioxidant is a great helper to counteract many diabetic complications.
I've also added D-3
Swanson Home Page
five caps per day to ward off the evil colds and flus And Silica too; also from Swanson's.
~4 essential minerals for diabetics
~SELENIUMhelps immune system,fights infection and aids circulation
~MAGNESIUMhelps to relax you, aids stress and muscle relaxing
~CHROMIUMimproves insulin sensitivity, and helps lower blood sugar.
~ZINC especially to help you heal.
~coconut oil


for the Omega-3~6 balance and losing weight
*************************************
Be sure to check out my new favorite interactive health message group Heath and Nutrition
Write to me at Webriter@verizon.net or use the comment or chat features. I do appreciate the feedback even if it’s negative, Christian Biblical stories
Natural herbal remedies
NEW Health watchers CHATROOM CLICK HERE



-----THE GARDEN GNOME

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

~~~Jokes and Inspiration~~~
The Pope and Hillary Rodham Clinton (HRC) are on the same stage in
front of a huge crowd.
'Her Majesty' and His Holiness, however, have seen it all before, so
to make it a little more interesting, the senator says to the Pope,
'Did you know that with just one little wave of my hand I can make
every Democrat in the crowd go wild?'
He doubts it, so she shows him. Sure enough, the wave elicits rapture and
Cheering from every democrat in the crowd. Gradually, the cheering
subsides.
The Pope, not wanting to be out done by such a level of arrogance,
considers what he could do. 'That was impressive. But did you know
that with just one little wave of MY hand I can make EVERY person in
the crowd go crazy with joy? This joy will not be a momentary display
like that of your subjects, but will go deep into their hearts, and
they will forever speak of this day and rejoice.'
The senator seriously doubts this , and says so. 'One little wave of
your hand and all people will rejoice forever? Show me.'
So the Pope slapped her.
~~~
Perhaps in time the so-called Dark Ages will be
thought of as including our own.
-- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an
unnecessary freezing of water.
-- Carl Reiner

Acting is the most minor of gifts and not a very
high-class way to earn a living. After all,
Shirley Temple could do it at the age of four.
-- Katharine Hepburn

About the time we think we can make ends meet,
somebody moves the ends.

~~~
AN EXERCISE IN GRATITUDE - Part 2

I choose to be grateful...

For the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine

For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining I hear about the government because it means we have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking and I have been blessed with transportation.

~~~
Some people just shouldn't be parents
The couple was delighted when their long wait to adopt a baby came to an end. The adoption center called and told them that there was a wonderful Russian baby boy available. The couple accepted him without hesitation.
On the way home from the adoption center, they stopped by the local college so they each could enroll in night courses.
After they filled out the forms, the registration clerk inquired, "What ever possessed you to study Russian?"
The couple said proudly, "We just adopted a Russian baby. In a year or so, when he begins to talk, we want to be able to understand him."
~~~
There's no point in being grown up if you can't
be childish sometimes.
-- Doctor Who

War is a series of catastrophes that results in a
victory.
-- Georges Clemenceau

Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no
remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to
remedy anything.
-- Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle

Some have been thought brave because they were
afraid to run away.
-- Thomas Fuller


~~~
HAPPY NEW YEAR, BLESSING SITE JUST FOR YOU

SOURCES
(1)http://www.experiencelifemag.com/issues/november-2007/healthy-eating/phyto-power.html?ht=