Know What to Eat

Since I remember clearly when I was just getting into the conversation of natural health and using diet as a method of health instead of depending on a doctor, I figured some of you might be new to this whole thing too.

So I figured I’d make it super simple.

Here is my family’s rule of thumb for natural healthy eating:

Stop eating dead food, and start eating living food.

That’s it.

What do we mean by dead and living food?

Dead Food

Dead food is any food that has been frozen, chemically preserved, cooked, processed, pasteurized, or refined.

• Frozen meat, fruit, and vegetables

• Chemically preserved food. (Anything that comes in cellophane wrapped plastic is probably loaded with chemical preservatives.)

• Cooked food. (Yes we know that some foods have to be cooked, but the more you cook them, the deader they are.)

• Processed foods are foods that have been put through a devitalizing process of adding chemicals and additives. Canned foods, low-fat anything, hot dogs etc.

• Pasteurization is a wonderful process that has prevented the spread of disease-causing bacteria and pathogens, but it still deadens milk and dairy products.

• Refined foods like white bread, white rice, and white sugar.

The deader a food is, the less available the nutrients are to our bodies. But we feel like there is also an energetic or even spiritual component to choosing living food over dead food.

There is a vitality, energy, and aliveness that is lost when foods are over-processed and refined.

If processed and refined foods are dead, then what foods are alive?

Living Foods

Living foods are as close to literally being alive as you can get without having to wrestle, or cut it down yourself before you put it on your plate.

• Fresh, raw, (especially organic) fruits, and vegetables.

• Meats that have never been cooked, preserved, or frozen before you purchased them.

• Fresh whole grains, beans, and rice.

• Raw, whole, un-pasteurized milk and dairy products

Basically, any food that is raw and whole, and has never been cooked, frozen, or processed in any way is a living food.

At first you might think that this really limits what you can eat. And in some ways it does. But we believe in baby steps when it comes to the Natural Healthy Family lifestyle.

We also believe in common sense. Ultimately you have to be the judge about what foods are healthy for you and your family.

What's with Good Fats and Bad Fats?

Ok, it's time, once and for all to dispel this myth that fat is bad! There is a common belief in this country that low-fat = healthy. And it's just not true.

Let's get clear about the two types of fat that we are talking about.

Good Fat: The first type of fat is omega-3, found in fish (especially salmon), walnuts, flax seeds and other foods. This type of fat is necessary and has all kinds of benefits for our bodies, including lowering the amount of lipids, (fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides,) circulating in the bloodstream, and reducing the risk of becoming obese by improving the body's ability to respond to insulin by stimulating the secretion of leptin, a hormone that helps regulate food intake. Bad Fat: Omega-6 is not actually bad fat, it's also necessary for our bodies as well, in small amounts. You can get all you need from whole grains, seeds and nuts. The reason why we say it's a "bad fat" is that we are consuming tons of this stuff, and we're getting it from sources in which the fats have turned rancid!

This is what Julia Ross, author of The Mood Cure (a book we highly recommend) has to say about omega-6 fats.

"Here are the reasons I fear these fats. First, they are very unstable- that is, they can become dangerously rancid very quickly. Rancid means oxidized, and in your body, oxidized means damage to your cells and tissues, especially to the areas rich in fat like your brain... If you eat vegetable oils that are already oxidized from heat and light in processing, you are exposing your own healthy tissues to a volatile substance that will damage them. Here's where butter is truly better. You can keep it on the table for days at a time and it won't spoil. Why? It's not damaged by light and heat, and it's packed with natural substances called 'antioxidants' that prevent oxidation. In contrast vegetable oils have had their antioxidants removed and destroyed in processing... Oxidation, or rancidity, is a major contributor to most degenerative diseases, and we consume, on average, fifty-seven pounds a year of rancid vegetable oils..."

So which oils contain high amounts of unstable (Bad) omega-6 fats?

Corn oil, soy oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, wheat germ oil, cottonseed oil, walnut oil, and all of the margarines, shortenings, salad dressings, mayonnaise, and baked goods that are made from and with these oils.

Safe oils to use are extra virgin olive oil, and pure coconut or palm oil.

Whole Milk VS Low-Fat Milk?

Once again their is a myth about low fat and skim milk being healthier, because it has a lower fat content. The fact is that without the fat, milk is just protein, water, and sugar.

That's why our "Healthy Recipes" frequently contain whole milk, real butter, and whole wheat flour.

We're not saying that you can eat as much fat as you want. What we are saying is that your body needs good fat (in moderation), and that most of us are consuming way too much of the "bad" (specifically, rancid) fats and sugar.

For more information on Good Mood Foods, please visit Julia Ross's website at http://www.moodcure.com/ (Definitely check out the "Good Mood Foods" link.)

Allergies

What with it being allergy season and all, I thought some information from the book "Bio-Kinetic Testing for Health" would be appropriate...

Allergies come from four sources:

1. Something you eat
2. Something you breathe
3. Something you touch
4. Something that bites you

We often think that an allergy food is limited to things like pollen, strawberries, or shellfish.

But it really runs the full gamut. Many people are allergic to the chemicals in their cleaning products or fragrant candles. A huge proportion of people are allergic to any foods containing corn (which is almost as many that contain wheat). And a large amount of people are sensitive to microwaves.

Here’s what you should understand about Allergies:

1. An Allergy can be inherited.

2. Allergies can vary in the same family. Just because mom has one, doesn’t mean Jr. will too.

3. They can come and go overnight.

4. Allergies can be made worse by other infectious agents.

5. Allergies can be to only one part of a food. For example, if have a milk allergy, is it the fat, the calcium, the hormones, etc. that you are allergic to?

6. Allergies come in varying degrees. Some can cause a tickle in the throat, some can cause death.

7. It’s often something you have an aversion to anyway.

The good news about Allergies is that some can be disappeared, or reset, without the use of often harmful allergy medicine.

Many chiropractors are able to do this, for a nominal fee. But with Bio-Kinetic testing you can do this yourself for you and your family.

Imagine the freedom a person experiences after being reset and eating a thick slice of hot, crunchy wheat bread for the first time in years. Or having a huge dish of ice cream after years of avoiding dairy products.

The process of resetting allergies is really quite simple. It consists of testing for which meridians are affected, tapping on the start and end points of each affected meridian, then staying away from the allergen for 48 hours. That’s it!

So for those of you readers who experience uncomfortable Allergies or know people who do, I hope you’ll look into getting them reset, by any means. It really could open up a whole new part of life for you.

Yet Another Reason to Love Hydrogen Peroxide

Okay, besides the first aid benefits and the fact that I use it to rinse my mouth every night before I go to bed, (it whitens my teeth and kills bacteria), I recently discovered yet another reason to love hydrogen peroxide: CARPET STAINS.

Now I can’t stand chemical cleaners. I make my own all-purpose cleaner to disinfect in the bathroom and cut grease in the kitchen. I use an equal mixture of water, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol for a window cleaner. I also use old fashioned hot water and Borax to clean the floor. So in my world of messy kids and muddy dogs, this “new” discovery is pretty exciting.

Simply pour directly onto the stain and rub with your finger. Let it sit for up to a minute, then rub dry with a rag. There isn't a stain on my carpet it hasn't been able to remove.

This is a great investment. Instead of spending around $5 for a bottle of chemicals which can do us or the environment no good, spend around $1.

I love peroxide.

The Cheap Fix: Hydrogen Peroxide

Lately I’ve been learning more and more about the magic that is Hydrogen Peroxide. Yep, that dark brown bottle of 3% peroxide that costs $.89 at the drug store. Go buy yourself a case or two.

Here’s why:

- Use it as a fruit and vegetable soak to clean off pesticides.

- You can also use the 50/50 mixture for athlete’s foot. Spray some of the affected area and let it dry.

- Peroxide disinfects. Use it the clean countertops, cutting boards, bathrooms, soak your kitchen sponge, soak toothbrushes, and clean your dishwasher, fridge, and microwave.

- Pour peroxide on fresh wounds and enjoy the show. All that bubbling will kill the infection causing bacteria. (For continued treatment of wounds, we actually recommend that you switch to Tea Tree Oil. Peroxide does not discriminate about what it kills. It will kill the good stuff and the bad stuff. Tea Tree Oil may help the healing process more than peroxide will for that reason.)

- I used to work for a dentist. People would spend hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars getting their teeth whitened. Don’t waste your money. Take one little capful of peroxide and swish it around in your mouth, spit, and rinse. There will be a lot of bubbling, but each time your teeth will be whiter and whiter. It also kills bad breath.

- Whenever you have a cold or sinus infection make a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and distilled water. Put a few drops in your nose, let it sit for a few seconds (or 30) and blow your nose. Also put a couple of drops in your ears. It will travel to the nasal passages and loosen mucus. You can also gargle with it to sooth sore throats.

- Peroxide will whiten clothes. Add one cup to your laundry instead of polluting the water systems with bleach.

Okay, I’m going to stop there. And I’ve really only touched the tip of the ice burg. Here I’ve given you a few ideas for household uses of hydrogen peroxide. But the list really could go on and on. Hydrogen Peroxide has been used to treat cancer and cure arthritis! It’s been used with much success on degenerative diseases. Growths that can occur in our bodies, like yeast, viruses, and tumors are stopped by the extra atom of nascent oxygen in hydrogen peroxide. Amazing!

Start doing a little research. It may open up a whole new path to health for you.

Epstein-Barr Virus: The Energy Sneak-Thief

By Beth Blasingame

Without a doubt, one of the two most common problems I see with my clients while Bio-Kinetically Testing them is the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV).

EBV is the most common virus in humans in the Western Hemisphere. It’s estimated that some 95% of adults have been infected with this virus at some time in their life. And it's incredibly sneaky! Like a "wolf in sheep's clothing", it manifests itself as many common illnesses, and most people never even know that the EBV is actually causing their symptoms.

What Common Illnesses Might Actually Be Epstein-Barr?

Here are some common illnesses that are sometimes actually mis-diagnosed cases of (or are linked to or caused by) the Epstein-Barr Virus:

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Mononucleosis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Lymphoma
Depression
Hyperactivity
Anxiety Disorders
A.D.D (Or whatever they are calling it now)
Intestinal Complaints
Headaches
Flu-like Symptoms
Low Energy and Common Malaise

Epstein-Barr can manifest itself in clever ways. One client came in after being diagnosed with MS. After testing, it turned out he had EBV in his brain. Once the EBV was cleared out, the MS symptoms mysteriously cleared up.

Another client had a terrible upper back ache. She tested for EBV in the liver. Once again, when the EBV was cleared out, the back ache went away.

But by far, the most common complaint I hear is a general feeling of tiredness. And so far, every time I test someone who feels this way, I find the presence of the Epstein-Barr Virus.

A Modern Day Plague?

Tisha Mecham, author of the book Bio-Kinetic Testing for Health and one of my mentors has ventured to say that EB is at plague proportions in our society, and based on my experience I would have to agree with her.

The virus has been able to reach these "plague proportions" because it's so hard to identify and easy to mis-diagnose. And EBV doesn’t kill you; it just makes you feel like you’d like to be dead. So there isn't the same urgency in the medical community to find a cure, nor does it get the same media attention as something like cancer.

I mean, could you imagine seeing this headline...

"This Just In, Hot Off The Press!
Local Woman Feels....Tired."

And How Do You Catch EBV?

1. A pregnant woman can pass it on to her baby in the uterus
2. Vaccinations can contain the virus
3. It is spread from one person to another like the common cold.

This thing spreads like wild-fire for exactly the same reasons that make it so hard to diagnose. It can literally hide out in your body for years! (Like yeast and bacteria, EB somehow is able to keep from being completely eliminated by your immune system.) And at first, it will only make you feel a little tired, if you feel anything at all! So people are walking around spreading this virus, with no clue that they even have it.

So now that I’ve convinced you that you might have EB, what can you do about it?

How To Rid Yourself Of Epstein-Barr

Luckily for you and me, we know how to use Bio-Kinetic Testing. So we can easily identify this insidious virus and get rid of it!

What's that you say?

You STILL haven't joined the Bio-Kinetic Testing Home Learning Center and learned how to test for yourself?

Huh.....

(Sorry about the plug...but really...don't you think it's about time you got on board?)

Ok, for the benefit of those of you who still refuse to learn this for yourself, I'll give you the low down on how to rid yourself of the Epstein-Barr Virus.

Getting rid of EBV is a simple matter of a cutting out certain foods and taking a few herbs.

That’s it!

You can cut out certain foods that feed the virus; any high-fat foods (cheese, creams, red meat, deep fried foods), wines and liquors, potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, and eggplant.

There are also a few common herbs and supplements that help to get rid of EB: Astralagus, Blue Vervain, Burdock, Cayenne, Echinacea, Elderberry, Myrrh, Olive Leaf, Rose Hips, Slippery Elm, Uva Ursi, Yarrow, Yellow Dock, and Vitamin C.

The basic idea is to remove anything that feeds the virus from your diet, while simultaneously adding things to your diet that will drive the virus out. After a couple of weeks, you should notice a definite difference in the way you feel. (If you know Bio-Kinetic Testing, you can just "test on a scale" and see how much of the virus is left in your body....)

Clients who have never had an energetic day in their lives suddenly feel like hiking, jogging, and taking up new hobbies. It truly is amazing to see.

That’s a very brief overview of the Epstein-Barr Virus. The book Bio-Kinetic Testing for Health by Tisha Mecham is a great resource for EB. So is the internet. Just take internet information with a grain of salt. There are a lot of very wealthy companies that would lose a lot of money if everyone tested and got rid of their EBV with a few herbs and diet change.

And of course, if you suspect that you have EB (and aren't interested in learning Bio-Kinetic Testing) you can always hire me to test you!

As always, we love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a comment here on the blog.

Or, click here to leave this Epstein-Barr Virus blog post and find more Natural Health Resources.

Immunizations

My 3-month-old daughter has her first doctor’s appointment tomorrow. Up until this time she and I have been under the wonderful care of my fabulous midwife. The big question at tomorrow’s appointment will be “What immunizations will she receive?”

My answer to that question is pretty controversial for a lot of people. My answer is no.

Now I am not writing this saying that no one should get their kids immunized. And I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do. It has been my experience that the information out there is pretty one sided.

My take on things is that everyone does what they think is the right thing based on the information they have at the time. My 4-year-old has been completely immunized because that’s what I felt was the best thing to do at the time.

My decision now not to immunize is based on an extensive amount of research. I thought I’d share some of that research with you. That way, you can make the best decision for you and your kids. I truly hope this helps you make an informed decision. Good luck!

P.S. Bio-Kinetic Testing has been VERY successful in treating certain types of autism and immunization side effect. It tests for allergies, can detect yeast with pinpoint accuracy, and uses diet and herbs to detox the effects of mercury poisoning. For more information on this method, contact us through our website.

This is an article from Rolling Stone written by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. http://www.naturalhealthyfamily.com/

Generation Rescue is Jenny McCarthy’s autism organization. http://www.generationrescue.org/

This is a great article about the immunization autism link. It has a lot of resources at the end. http://www.healthtruthrevealed.com/full-page.php?id=10022231911&&page=article