05.10.10

Healthy Immune System

Posted in Health & Wellness at 9:43 am by Jennifer

Modern conventional medicine battles disease directly by means of drugs, surgery, radiation, and other therapies, but true health can be attained only by maintaining a healthy, properly functioning immune system. The immune system fights off disease-causing microorganisms and that engineers the healing process. Even the aging process may be more closely related to the functioning of the immune system than to the passage of time.

The task of the immune system is to identify those things that are naturally in the body and those that are foreign or otherwise harmful material, and then to neutralize or destroy the foreign material. The immune system is a system of complex interactions involving many different organs, structures, and substances, among them white blood cells, bone marrow, the lymphatic vessels and organs, specialized cells found in various body tissues, and specialized substances, called serum factors, that are present in the blood. Ideally, all of these components work together to protect the body against infection and disease.

In cell mediated immunity, white blood cells called T-cells, identify and then destroy cancerous cells, viruses, and microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. When a B-cell is presented with a particular antigen, it engineers an antibody to match it and stores a blue print of the invader so that it can initiate the production of antibodies in case of subsequent exposure, even if a long period of time elapses in between. These cells are your body’s first line of defense.

There are two primary types of immune system disorders. Immunodeficiency diseases result from weakened immune function. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s own immune system cells attack healthy cells, as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

The immune system can work as it should only if it is cared for properly. This means getting all the right nutrients and providing the right environment, plus avoiding those things that depress immunity. Many elements in our environment compromise our immune systems’ defensive abilities. The chemicals in household cleaners, the overuse of antibiotics, pesticides, and additives in foods and exposure to environmental pollutants all place a strain on the immune system.

Choices in your everyday life are the biggest factors that influence your immune defenses. Not smoking, increasing fruits and vegetables in your diet, eating regular meals, maintaining a healthy weight, get enough sleep and relaxation time, exercise, eat a high fiber, low fat diet and use nutritional supplements that support immune function.

Supportive Nutrients

Vitamin A is a powerful immune booster. White blood cells can not survive with out vitamin A. Recommended daily doses are 1,000mcg for men and 800mcg for non-pregnant women. Note: Pregnant women should take a carotene complex in combination with a wide range of other antioxidants to provide the benefits of vitamin A, without the risk.

Zinc helps to fight and prevent free radicals. Zinc also increases the absorption of vitamin A. Recommended daily dose is 15mg daily for men and 12mg daily for women.

Vitamins C and E helps the body resist oxidative stress and fights free radicals. Recommended daily dose ranges from 500-1,000 mg of vitamin C and 400-800iu of vitamin E.

Coenzyme Q10 is found in all parts of the body. This substance plays a critical role in the production of energy in every cell of the body. It aids circulation, stimulates the immune system, increases tissue oxygenation, and has vital anti-aging effects. Research has shown that CoQ10 has the ability to counter histamine, and therefore is also beneficial for people with allergies, asthma, or respiratory disease. It is also beneficial in fighting obesity, candidiasis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. CoQ10 along with B6 appear to increase lymphocytes, which are important components of the immune system. Recommended daily dose suggests starting at 10mg daily and building up gradually as needed.

Inositol hexaphosphate, also known as IP6 is a compound consisting of the B vitamin inositol plus six phosphate groups. It has been proven in lab studies to prevent cancer, prevent and treat heart disease, prevent kidney stones and liver disease, and also reduce cholesterol levels and prevent the inappropriate formation of blood clots, a major cause of heart attacks. IP6 inhibits the activity of free radicals in the body, which slows the type of abnormal cell division associated with cancer and tumor growth. Also helps to maintain a strong immune system in people undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Significant amounts are found in foods such as beans, brown rice, whole kernel corn, sesame seeds, wheat bran, cornbread, grape juice, and raisins. Recommended daily dose is 3,000-5,000mg. Do not take within 1 hour of meals, it may interfere with the body’s absorption of minerals.

Iron is essential for the white blood cells that kill bacteria. The daily recommended dietary allowance is 10mg for men and 15 mg for premenopausal women. Supplemental iron may not be appropriate for postmenopausal women.

Folic Acid, a B vitamin, largely impacts the immune system. Prevents cardiovascular disease and cervical dysplasia. Along with zinc, selenium, iron, copper, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, C, and D, defend against infectious agents. The daily recommended dietary allowance for folic acid id 200mcg for men and 180mcg for women.

Selenium protects the immune system by preventing the formation of free radicals that can damage the body. Selenium plays a vital role in regulating the effects of thyroid hormone on fat metabolism. The daily recommended dietary allowance is 50mcg to 200 mcg.

Echinacea fights inflammation and bacterial and viral infection. Stimulates certain white blood cells. Good for the immune system and the lymphatic system. Recommended not to take long term on a consecutive basis. Take echinacea two weeks on two weeks off.

Elderberry combats free radicals and inflammation. Relieves coughs and congestion. Builds the blood, cleanses the system, eases constipation. Enhances immune system function. Increases perspiration, lowers fever, soothes the respiratory tract, and stimulates circulation. Effective against flu viruses.

Milk Thistle protects the liver from toxins and pollutants by preventing free radical damage and stimulates production of new liver cells. Also protects the kidneys. Good for gallbladder and adrenal disorders, psoriasis, weakened immune system, IBS, and all liver disorders. Have shown anticancer effects against prostate cancer and breast cancer.

Garlic detoxifies the body and protects against infection by enhancing immune function. Lowers blood pressure and improves circulation. Lowers blood lipid levels. Helps stabilize blood sugar levels. Aids in treatment of arteriosclerosis, arthritis, asthma, cancer, circulatory problems, colds and flu, digestive problems, heart disorders, insomnia, liver disease, sinusitis, ulcers, and yeast infections. Taking garlic in a supplement is great but you can also eat raw garlic. Take a clove of garlic and cut it into quarters. Swallow the quarters like a pill. It is a great and very potent way of getting the anti-oxidant properties. If you do this frequently, the smell of garlic will not be a problem.

Astragalus a.k.a. Huang qi acts as a tonic to protect the immune system. Aids adrenal gland function and digestion. Increases metabolism, produces spontaneous sweating, promotes healing, and provides energy to combat fatigue and prolonged stress. Increases stamina. Good for colds, flu, immune deficiency related problems, including AIDS, cancer and tumors. Caution: should not be taken if fever is present.

Cat’s Claw acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Stimulates the immune system. Cleanses the intestinal tract and enhances the action of white blood cells. Good for intestinal problems and viral infections. Caution: should not be used during pregnancy.

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04.15.10

Understanding pH

Posted in Health & Wellness at 6:13 am by Jennifer

pH in chemistry is a way to measure the charges of an ion. Whether an ion contains a negatively charged -OH atom or a positively charged H+ atom determines whether or not something is alkaline (basic) or acidic. These charges are measured on a pH scale that ranges from 0-14. Water is a neutral molecule and is measured on the pH scale as 7. Substances that measure 0-6 are considered acidic and substances that measure 8-14 are considered alkaline (basic).

Alkaline and acidic substances have properties that can be corrosive, so it is important that the body maintain a relatively neutral pH. The blood for instance has very little room for fluxuation, it must maintain a pH of 7.35-7.45 in order for your body to receive the nutrients it needs from your blood and for you to live The body does have a regulator for your blood to keep it within this range. pH of your colon, kidneys (urine), and saliva are maintained by a healthy diet, which includes certain foods, as well as plenty of water.

Your colon’s optimal pH is 7.8-8.3. Candida can occur in a gut with too acidic of a pH. The acidity allows for overgrowth and symptoms to show up even outside of the gut (skin irritations, etc). Bad breath and pungent body odor can be a symptom of acidic conditions in the body because your skin and lungs gas off excess acidity.

Saliva is a great pH window because it is the first solution that comes in contact with foods and can change pretty easily. Saliva that continually tests acidic can be an indicator of a lack of neutralizing minerals in the body.

Urine is the best way to see the pH of the body. Urine is not generally changed by external factors. But it can fluxuate during a detox when your body uses your kidneys as a pathway for eliminating toxins. Urine that consistently remains either acidic or alkaline can be a sign that the body is in a state of pH unbalance.

pH effect of effective alkalizing activities

Least effective alkalizing activities

Foods that neutralize pH

• Green leafy vegetables, tofu and tempeh
• Lemon juice in water or lime juice in water
• Apple cider, apples, lemons, limes
• Yams
• Spinach, turnup greens, broccoli
• Raw, unprocessed nuts, pumpkin seeds
• Poultry, eggs
• Live-cultured dairy, including yogurt, cottage cheese, blue cheese, swiss, munster.
• Foods high in potassium

Foods that are not acceptable

• Red meat
• Milk
• Refined sugar or foods that contain refined sugar
• Limit intake of simple carbohydrates, such as honey and maltose
• White flour products
• Orange juice, bananas, pears
• Phosphoric acid sources, such as when used as preservatives
• Soft drinks
• Corn or potatoes, or products that contain theses foods
• Calcium carbonate in your calcium supplements
• Antacids containing either aluminum or calcium carbonate
• Sodium chloride salt

pH effects of food

It is generally agreed that a diet of 80% alkalizing foods maintains the best moderate balance-this allows for 20% for foods you like that don’t like you.

• Never eat more than 80% of your hunger- if you cannot climb a hill after eating, you ate too much too quickly- slow down and eat less!
• Eat more than 25 different varieties of food each week- Chinese medicine says 55.
• Exercise according to your breathing capacity-if you cannot speak afterward, then it was too vigorous for you today.
• A relaxation regimen should match the exercise taken- aching limbs are a sign of lactic acid saturation caused by insufficient oxygen in available blood flow.
• Sleep in complete darkness to ensure deep relaxation of the nervous system, and take every opportunity to bathe closed eyes in sunlight to stimulated hypothalamus vitality.
• Immerse as much of your body as possible in sunlight as often as possible.

When diet is not enough

In most instances, dietary measures are all that are needed to bring about the desired change in pH. However, if you have chronic yeast infections, cancer, has been chronically exposed to mercury and/or other heavy metals, or has long suffered with chronic inflammation; dietary changes will bring about progress, but may not be sufficient. If any one of these situations exist, you will need to also supplement with potassium citrate or bicarbonate.

Potassium citrate or bicarbonate

Dosage is generally 1/4 – 1tsp. 3 times a day in water or apple cider for one week. It is advised to start at a lower dose and work up, if needed. Once pH has risen to the desired level, diet alone can generally hold the pH at that level. Do not administer to people with a low serum calcium, or an elevated potassium.

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02.23.10

Lung health

Posted in Health & Wellness at 6:21 am by Jennifer

When you breathe, the air goes down into your lungs, where it eventually makes it to the alveoli and to blood capillaries where the oxygen and other components of the air you breathe make it into your blood stream.  Components of tobacco smoke and environmental toxins appear to trigger the release within the lungs of chemicals that damage the walls of the air sacs (alveoli). Over time, the sacs no longer have the same ability to bring oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream

People who have eaten a Standard American Diet for many years, especially with a lot of dairy foods, tend to have lungs tissue that has excess fat and lungs that have excess mucus in them.  The fat and mucus coupled with physical and/or emotional stress in the chest or upper back can lead  to asthmatic attacks.

In addition, the lungs can often bare the brunt of the toxic chemical attack on the system as the chemicals are, for some people, constantly being breathed in.  It is important to cleanse and heal the lungs as well as to remove toxic  chemicals from the air.

Herbs for the Lungs

1.  Lotus Root Tea

This tea helps dissolve and eliminate mucus and lung

congestion over time.

Fresh Lotus Root (preferable)

—————-

a.  Grate a 2-inch piece of fresh lotus root and

squeeze out juice through a cheesecloth.  Add 2-3

drops of ginger juice squeezed from freshly grated

ginger root and a tiny pinch of sea salt.  Add an

equal amount of spring water and boil for a few

minutes.

Lotus Root Powder

—————–

b.  Add one teaspoon of powder to a small cup of

water.  Add a tiny pinch of sea salt and 2-3 drops

of ginger juice.  Heat on low flame and turn off

flame when boiling begins.

2.  Lotus Root Plaster

——————

Lotus root plasters are excellant for dissolving mucus

deposits in the bronchi and sinuses.

Supplies needed:

1.  Everything that is needed for Ginger Compress (see

above).

2.  White flour.

3.  Fresh lotus root (check chinese grocery store or

natural food store).

4.  Cotton cloth.

5.  A sheet or other cloth to keep plaster in place.

Steps:

1.  Perform a ginger compress for 10-15 minutes on lungs

region.

2.  Grate fresh lotus root.

3.  Mix lotus root with 5% grated ginger and 10-15%

white flour.

4.  Spread paste on cloth about 1/2 inch thick.

5.  Apply cloth so that plaster directly touches the

skin.

6.  Tie in place with sheet or large cloth.

7.  Keep plaster on for several hours.  You can sleep

with it on if you tie it in place.

8.  Procedure should be repeated for 7-21 days.  Thick

mucus will start to be discharged.

Many years ago, when I did this on my sinuses, I had to

stay home from work because so much thick mucus was pouring

from my eyes and nose.

A more complete description of the Lotus Root Plaster

can be found in the following book:

Macrobiotic Home Remedies

by Michio Kushi

Japan Publications, c1985

ISBN 0-87040-554-3

Rebuilding & Strengthening

————————–

1.  Well-ventilated bedroom

2.  Taking walks along the ocean or in the mountains can be

Extremely beneficial over time.  If that is not possible,

any walking outside (away from pollution) or even deep

breathing by an open window can be helpful.

3.  Healthy, natural foods diet that strengthens the

digestion and avoids overly cold foods and too much flour

and fruit.

4.  Yoga, pranayama, and emotional healing techniques

can be very helpful over time.

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02.19.10

Find Your Meditation Practice

Posted in Health & Wellness, Life & Spirit at 6:00 am by Jennifer

It is so important to take the time in our day to quiet our minds, our spirits and our bodies. We can spend so much energy being up in our heads all day long, running from here to there, riding the roller coaster of emotions from the people in our lives.  We find ourselves exhausted by the end of the day.   Often we feel overwhelmed by life or sometimes even find our selves depressed.   Some of us try to go on and put on our happy faces to face the world, when really it is not what we are genuinely feeling.  We live like this, and this living depletes our spirit, increases our stress, decreases our immune system and leaves us feeling run down and tired.

There are many paths to re-finding our spirits.  Taking a walk, exercising, Yoga, making art, playing with our kids, listening to music.  But the one path that has been proven in scientific studies and has been practiced over thousands of years is meditation.

Meditation can be a scary word for some.  It draws connotations of chanting and hippies and maybe even challenging religious beliefs.  But the truth is, you can create your meditation practice to be what you need it to be and still benefit from it.  Meditation can be done in a group or be practiced alone.  It can be done formally everyday at the same time of day for the same length of time, it can be a guided meditation using visualizations or can be just a quiet moment you catch before your kids get home from school.  There can be “rules” to meditation or there can be no rules at all.

Some ideas to try a meditation practice:

Stopping and being present.

Guide:  The goal of these meditations is to get to know our minds better, to cultivate insight and peace, and to become calmer and more focused.

So stop what your doing and just sit there.  It is as simple as that.  But don’t just sit there, be present in the moment.  Notice the birds chirping, or the sounds in the room.  Be in the moment.  Try this practice many times a day, for as long as you can.  And if you are having a busy day, keep it even simpler and continue to do your day, just practice training your mind to be in the moment, moment to moment.

Breathing

Find a comfortable seat.  Find a position that you can comfortably hold without moving around.  Try not to lean against anything, sit away from the back of your chair, or the wall, allowing your body to find its own center.

Feel your body, your sit bones holding your lower body up, feel your chest open, your shoulders relax, as if they were moving down your back.

Relax your mouth.  Allow your tongue to sit softly in your mouth, your jaw soft.  Relax the muscles around your eyes.

Place your hands on your belly, just below your belly button.  Notice your breath.  Take a normal size breath in, and let it ease down your body until you feel the belly expand. Now slowly let the breath ease out.  The belly gets smaller.  Breathe in the belly expands, breathe out the belly gets smaller.  This is breathing in a meditative way.  Do this for a minute or longer.

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02.06.10

‘Alternative’ Medicine Is Mainstream The evidence is mounting that diet and lifestyle are the best cures for our worst afflictions.

Posted in Health & Wellness at 2:28 pm by Jennifer

The latest scientific studies show that our bodies have a remarkable capacity to begin healing, and much more quickly than we had once realized, if we address the lifestyle factors that often cause these chronic diseases. These studies show that integrative medicine can make a powerful difference in our health and well-being, how quickly these changes may occur, and how dynamic these mechanisms can be. Many people tend to think of breakthroughs in medicine as a new drug, laser or high-tech surgical procedure. They often have a hard time believing that the simple choices that we make in our lifestyle — what we eat, how we respond to stress, whether or not we smoke cigarettes, how much exercise we get, and the quality of our relationships and social support — can be as powerful as drugs and surgery. But they often  are. And in many instances, they’re even more powerful.

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02.03.10

Our Endocrine System

Posted in Health & Wellness at 7:47 am by Jennifer

What are Hormones?
Hormones are vital chemical support systems that are secreted by glands spread throughout the body. This system of glands, including the thyroid, adrenal, pituitary and pineal, is called the endocrine system. The hormones secreted by the endocrine system are powerful sustainers of health and contribute to every process in the body, including cellular repair, metabolism, sexual desire and ability, stress adaptation, immune system function, mental functioning and energy production. The body’s health and vitality are dependent on the activity of vital hormones such as Human Growth Hormone (HGH), Thyroid, DHEA, Testosterone, and Pregnenolone. The ability of each hormone to maintain the body’s health is dependent on the amount of that hormone in the blood stream.

Since our hormones affect our mood, our aging process, even our abilities to heal ourselves, hormonal imbalance can create subtle dysfunctions in our physiological and psychological states, including continuing sexual performance problems: lack of sexual sensitivity, lack of sexual desire, deficient sexual experience, failure to achieve climax, dryness of vagina, sexual melancholia and sexual neurasthenia.

What Causes Hormonal Imbalance?
A major factor are environmental chemicals in our food, water and air – heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, plastics and many other poisons – that mimic estrogen once they enter our body. It has been reported on several news programs (CBS, The Discovery Channel and others) that the common tin can is inadvertently supplying us with unwanted, estrogen-like hormones – a result of a chemical reaction over a period of time between the tin and the plastic inner lining. These unwanted cumulative chemical additions are believed to have dire consequences within our bodies, adding a synthetic steroidal hormone which directly interferes with the normal function of our Endocrine System. Our body is fooled into thinking it is real estrogen and acts as if there is an estrogen excess in the system, creating an imbalance.

How Are Hormones Produced Within the Body?
The Endocrine System is the biochemical system of the body which controls and regulates the functioning of our entire metabolism through the production and direction of all of our hormones. Within the Endocrine System, there are literally hundreds of types of hormones produced – some affect a specific gland or tissue, some affect our overall health, and others simply aid in the production of other hormones.

Hormones are incredible multifunctional biochemicals, without which, we simply could not live. A specific group of hormones are amino acid-based molecules being manufactured by the body’s from-free form amino acids, so if these essential amino acids aren’t available, hormonal production dwindles.

The Endocrine System directly controls the process of aging and how healthy we will be in the process. Hormones manufactured by the Endocrine System directly govern the welfare of the entire body, keeping us young, healthy, and happy. Many pathological conditions are the result of or associated with the malfunctioning of the endocrine gland.

A Happy Healthy Endocrine System

Eating whole food organic diets promotes the healthy balance our bodies need. Eliminating processed foods and foods with additives and dyes is the first step.  Then including cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, bok choi, cabbage, watercress, radishes and others,  supports the body to regulate and detoxify your endocrine system. There is a nutrient in this family of vegetables called indole-3-carbonal which studies suggest improve estrogen metabolism.  You can find this nutrient in higher doses in supplemental form to get faster relief if you are suffering from hormone imbalances.  Flaxseed and B vitamins also contribute to balancing your hormone pathways.

By detoxifying our bodies from all of the environmental factors that cause imbalance and then supporting our bodies with nutrition or in some cases using bio-identical hormones for extra support.  Bio-identical hormones are hormones derived from plants and other sources  that our human body can identify and naturally use.  Stress management and finding ways to connect to ourselves spiritually and emotionally have actually been studied and proven to reduce the neuronal changes that are associated with accelerated aging and imbalances in the body. 

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01.21.10

A Motivated Mind

Posted in Health & Wellness at 9:45 am by Jennifer

Motivation can be hard to muster up sometimes. Especially when you are feeling in the dumps. How can you find those things that inspire your spirit when your entire body is telling you to rebel? Sometimes I think inspiration just happens. One day you decide that you are ready and nothing will stop you and there you have it your motivated. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you will stay motivated but for the time being your good to go. That is always a good thing when that inspiration just “hits” you but what happens when your waiting for inspiration to hit and it just doesn’t? What do you do then?

My favorite path to inspiration is to find books that are on the topic of the goal I am trying to reach. If you make no other commitment except for reading about it, I think that is a step in the right direction. Another helpful hint towards motivation is to begin talking or writing about what your goals are. Sometimes just putting it out in the universe that you begin to spin those wheels towards making a move.

Ok, so what if you have the motivation going, how can you stay motivated? Goal setting is extremely important! So you want to begin an exercise regime? Set a goal, like running a 5k or playing on a team of some sort. Even if you set the goal in the distant future, just holding that goal can motivate you to stay on track. Also make sure the goal you set is something that you are really interested in attaining. Writing or reading on reaching this goal can help keep you motivated.

Take the pressure off. I think it is important when trying to attain a goal to allow yourself to make mistakes or get off track. Just by forgiving yourself if you eat that donut allows yourself to be able to get back on track and not to get caught up in guilt or disappointment. Guilt, disappointment and beating yourself up is the quickest way towards giving up on your goal. Also believe in yourself. See yourself attaining your goal and believe that you can do it. If you don’t believe it, it won’t happen.

Change your attitude. Positivity will keep you motivated. If working out or getting healthy is a chore, then it will get harder and harder to stay motivated. Change your way of thinking by empowering your mind, say, “I am choosing to exercise because I know it will make me feel great!” or “I am choosing to __________ because I want to see myself do ___________” These positive statements will breed more positivity and keep you going. Negative statements (“I don’t feel like exercising” ;”I hate this”) will keep you stuck.

Rewards are always a good thing. Reward yourself for all of your hard work and acknowledge your successes.

Surround yourself with supportive people and motivating images. Watch movies that pertain to your goals or read books, magazines, find people that are interested in what you are wanting to do and find inspiration in them.

These are the things that help keep me motivated, I hope they help!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
- Nelson Mandela

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01.17.10

Non-Toxic Living

Posted in Health & Wellness at 12:31 pm by Jennifer

There are hundreds of toxins we are exposed to everyday in our environment. Toxins are in what we eat, wear, the mattresses we sleep on, the soap we use, household chemicals for cleaning and gardening, not to mention the air we breathe. These toxins have to be broken down by our liver, which can get overwhelmed and the toxins can end up being stored in the fatty tissues in the body. Some toxins mimic hormones or can cause inflammatory disorders and cancer. There are safer alternatives to our everyday household products and making small changes in your environment can make big differences in your body.

Most common household cleaners that you can get at your supermarket, contain toxic, caustic and non-biodegradable chemicals. It has been shown that it takes 26 seconds after exposure for these chemicals to show up in your body. Some people have reactions to this exposure, such as burning, itchy, watery eyes, trouble breathing or burning in the throat and lungs, gagging, nausea, migraines, headaches, and achy joints. Reactions are the body’s signal of overload and really telling you to “get away!” To prevent disease the body must manage the burden by eliminating the toxin. If the load is excessive, symptoms occur as a response to the disturbance of the body’s immune and detoxification functions. Everyone varies on the amount their body can handle based on overall health and genetics. We humans have created a toxic world, but awareness can make a big difference.

It is the accumulation of toxins over time that leads to an overwhelmed and toxic body. Studies have shown asthma rates in children have increased 118% from 1980 to 1993, as well as lung cancer in adults. Since World War II over 75,000 new synthetic chemicals have been developed and released into the environment; fewer than half have been tested for their potential toxicity on humans and even less have been tested for their toxicity on children. However times are changing, the American Environmental Health Foundation has published research and is educating physicians, politicians and others about these issues and we are learning just how crucial it is to take care of our environment and make the changes to protect our health.

There are some steps you can take to decrease your body’s exposure to unnecessary toxins.

1. Do not use herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers. Pesticides are neurotoxins, which mean the effect the central nervous system. Pesticides do not know the difference between the pest and you. Neurotoxins can cause short-term memory loss, loss of circulation, imbalance, and flu like symptoms, depression, and changes in mood, fatigue. A healthy alternative to those pests would be diatomatious earth, boric acid, and nematodes. You can get these at health food stores.
2. Eat organic foods. These foods are grown without any use of pesticides etc. Avoid processed foods (foods with colors and dyes, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup)
3. Avoid aspartame and artificial sweeteners. Aspartame breaks down in the body as formic acid and methanol. Splenda has still not been studied long enough to know how the body processes it.
4. Avoid storing food in plastic or drinking water from plastic bottles. Use glass jars/bottles. In 2002 the FDA named plastics “indirect food additives”, chemicals in the plastic do infiltrate food. It is hard to completely avoid all plastics, since most food comes packaged in plastic. The key here is to cut down.  Most importantly never microwave your food in plastic containers. Microwaving not only “zaps” the nutrients from your food but also releases the chemicals from the plastic containers into your food.
5. Use natural, biodegradable cleaning products. Get rid of those toxic chemicals sitting under your kitchen sink. The best thing to do is to find out the safe and proper disposal of these products and get them out of your home. There are many eco-friendly products at health food stores and even now at most grocery stores. White vinegar and water or dissolved baking soda makes a great alternative to ammonia-based cleansers. Baking soda or Bon Ami on a damp cloth is an effective abrasive cleaner that is good for you and the environment. 60ml of baking soda and 125 ml of vinegar mixed together makes an effective drain cleaner. For finished wood polish use 3 parts olive oil to one part white vinegar. Mineral oil works great for unfinished wood.
6. Same goes for natural, nontoxic personal care products. Cosmetics are full of chemicals. Avoid parabens, urea, sodium laurel sulfate, propylene glycol and fragrance. “Avalon Organics” and “Jasons” is a brand that makes shampoo, lotion, soaps etc. It is inexpensive and safe to use.  A great website with more information about safe cosmetics to use is www.safecosmetics.org
7. Open your windows as much as possible. Even in the most polluted cities, the air outside has been found less toxic than indoor air. Certain houseplants have been found to detoxify the air. Philodendrons, spider plants, aloe Vera, English ivy, golden pothos. Plant mint around your house to keep mosquitoes away.
8. Use safe cookware. Avoid Teflon; it is made out of chemicals. The best alternatives are glass, stainless steel or cast iron.
9. Limit installation of new carpets, plywood, wallboard and adhesives. All contain chemicals that will gas out in your home for a long period of time.
10. Participate in guided detoxification for your body at least once a year. The simplest way to detoxify is to do an elimination diet. It only requires eliminating common food allergens (such as wheat, dairy, corn, sugar and processed food) that allows the body to get out of its inflammatory state and release stored toxins.
11. Exercise, sweating, YOGA, drinking plenty of pure water, and getting good nutritional support assists your body in detoxifying.

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12.28.09

Detoxification after the holidays!

Posted in Health & Wellness, Uncategorized at 7:27 pm by Jennifer

Well, we got through the holidays and I think I’m still full from all the eating I’ve been doing.  I notice that I’m craving cookies and that homemade mac and cheese but at the same time I’m ready to be free of eating like this.  Its breaking the addiction.  All the leftovers are going and I’m headed to the grocery store today for some fresh food.  I’m looking forward to a raw food diet cleanse.  It consists of eating all fruits and vegetables raw for 3 days to 1 week. (Avocado are my best friend in every salad, healthy fats to keep the hunger away) I say 3 days to 1 week because for me, I commit to 3 days.  When I make it to day 3, I then asses how things are going, and how I feel.  If I can commit to one more day then I do…I do this checking in with myself until I feel like I would like to add some more foods in.  Sometimes I can also go longer than 1 week so if that is the case I go longer.  The goal for me is just to connect to my body and make all decisions consciously.  Not to just give up and dig into something that doesn’t make me feel good.

But when I’m ready,  I’ll introduce some cooked veggies, beans, and grains like rice & quinoa (no wheat, dairy, processed foods or sugar).  Nuts and dried fruit make great snacks.  No animal protein is optimal. But if I must I just do fish, chicken or buffalo.

I do this for 2 weeks and it seems to break the addiction. Plus I seem to feel so much better, loose weight and my mood is much more optimistic.  The hardest part seems to be after the first 3 days.  I realize this ahead so I make sure to have plenty of prepared foods to grab to keep me from grabbing for the unhealthy stuff.

I have to remember when times get tough to be gentle on myself and get creative with my food.  I journal and take flower essences, that can help with any emotions that may arise while I’m detoxing.  And most important do some sort of exercise at least take a walk, or do some yoga, pilates or dance in my living room to some good music!

Join me if you would like on this journey of detoxification and share your experience, strength and hope!  If you have any questions feel free to contact me jennifer@bodyspiritwisdom.com

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