Patrick Swayze died...

It is so terrible to hear that Patrick Swayze died after going through the traditional methods of cancer treatment. I cannot help but think that if he, or any of the celebrities who died from cancer-related treatments, would still be around if maybe they looked at their options, or new that there were other options.

Had he known that there are ways to combat cancer, would he have employed them? I mean, even if you know that there are different ways of doing things, these days you have to be made of a steel countenance and really be rooted in your convictions. Without proper support of those around you, you are pretty much pressured into doing things the 'normal' way. I guess that is a topic for another time.

He brought happiness to millions through his movies, and he left behind a legacy that will not soon be forgotten.

Natural news has a wonderful article on him:http://www.naturalnews.com/027030_cancer_chemotherapy_Patrick_Swayze.html

Its been forever!

Wow, my last post was in March! It has been really difficult for me to post new things up here because school and work have taken up the majority of my time. I am trying to get to a place where I can post more frequently though. I guess I need a lesson in time management.

Since March, I have been trying to incorporate more natural and healthful foods into my and my family's diet. It has been a struggle but I think it is working. What I am most proud of is that I have really been doing a lot of reading! I am more than half-way through Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, and I have a lot of books about natural health, gardening (which I am so very excited for!) and other health topics. I feel like I have grown so much and have learned so much over the summer that I can really help people and provide answers.

One thing that I am really getting into is pregnancy nutrition. I really hope to get the brewers diet book, because I have only read a little about it but it will be really helpful to me and other if I can get it. The price is a bit steep on Amazon, but it is definitely worth the price.

I mentioned earlier about gardening, I found this website that I really think sells good seeds. This site is called Non-hybrid seeds, and it looks really good! I plan getting seeds from here at some point in time! I really want to start a garden in Spring 2010, and I am gonna get my seeds from here. I will add it to my website list.

I also came across this story on science daily about how cigarettes contribute to MS (multiple sclerosis), pretty interesting stuff.

Until next time (whenever that is)!

Update on reading

As many of you have noticed, I have not updated or posted on this website for a bit a of time. That is because I am really trying to immerse myself in learning about natural health and natural health practices. I have been doing a bit of reading, from the new edition of Ron Schmid's Truth About Raw Milk book, to Keeping a Family Cow book who's author's name escapes me at the moment (but it was recommended in Nourishing Traditions book), and I am learning a lot!

I am excited to really start applying more of these principles to my life, although it is difficult because money is often a big obstacle, I am confident that I will be blessed by God, though, so I am not worried.

I have also been doing a bit more reading on Chemtrails, and I was admittedly worried when I first came across this information. But then, my fears were surpressed because I realize that a) God is in control, and that b) there is always a counteraction for every negative thing, its just a matter of finding the solution to these chemtrails.

I do want to put this question out there though: Is there anyone out there who has information on counteracting the negatives of the chemtrails?

Vicks vapor rub danger

A story posted on MSNBC details how Vicks vapor rub probably makes kids sicker not better.

What is with all of these childhood cold & flu remedies that end up doing more harm than good? Why is it these cold-medication manufacturers are delivering not only faulty products, but potentially harmful ones? Is the medical industry so corrupt that now our cold medicines are no longer safe? It is such a shame, I would rather bargain with massive amounts of vitamin C.

What I found most disturbing about this was the responses of the mothers: One said, and I quote, ";I’m a rebel mom,' said Rosenberg, the mother of Lucie, 17 months, and Clara, 3." This mother was referring to the fact that even though the study found that Vicks Vapor rub could be potentially dangerous, she will continue to use it on her children. I am all for parental rights and freedom, but you would think that if something was found to make kids sick, you might at least consider using more natural approaches. I may be being too harsh, but I know if I had a child and I read this (I wouldn't use traditional methods) I would especially stay away from these over-the-counter 'remedies'.

In my personal research, I have read that chicken soup made from homemade chicken stock and good vegetables is the best remedy for colds, congestion, stuffiness, etc. I know growing up my mom would make this drink consisting of garlic, honey, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice, and it works extrodinarily well. Oranges, grapefruit, other fruits, some vegetables, these are all potential cures of colds. Garlic is a powerful remedy, when chewed and masticated. Cayenne pepper by it self can also allieviate some symptoms. Also, herbs like echinecea, work well. These, along with lots of rest and sleep can really get rid of a nasty cold.

News today

Today is newsworthy day, not only because Barak H. Obama is being inagurated as the 44th and first African-American president.

Since this story is already heavily covered, I thought I might post some important stories that might slip under the radar on this historic day:

-ABC news health is reporting that there has been a spike in the incidence of MRSA among children. Not too surprising since we live in a pretty 'sterile' environment, which is not very good. If you watch television long enough, you are sure to come across cleaning product advertisments touting a 99.9% kill rate of all bacteria, good and bad. We need to stress cleanliness, not sterility.

-Naturalnews is reporting something particularly, shocking: HRT drugs shrink women's brains. Just another strange side-effect that such drugs have on women, and more reason to stay away from these drugs and search for alternatives.

-Naturalnews is also reporting that the Heart disease gene is virtually a useless indicator of heart disease incidence.

-The Salmonella scare is still in high gear. I betcha' this is all going to lead to the "renewed importance of irradiating all food." It seems like in the last few years, every year started off with a bacteria epidemic where the health officials have no idea where it is coming from.

A story I found particularly interesting was one posted today on Sciencedaily. It is about how DNA may not be the only source of heritability.

Book list

This year I am wholly dedicated to learning more and more about good nutrition and healthy ways of living. So, I have begun reading several books which I think will be important, and have compiled a list of books that I will read that are pretty relevant to health. Already, I have read a great deal of Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and Sugar Blues by William Dufty, and I am excited to continue reading these kinds of books. I just got Darwin Day in America by John G. West, and I cannot wait to read that, I am getting the new edition of The Untold Story of Milk by Ron Schmidt.

This is going to be an exceptionally enlightening year this year.

I suggest reading some of these books because they have important truths that need to be dispelled, health myths that need to be exposed, and really good information. I encourage all to read these books!

Gattaca

Interesting title right? Well, it is actually the title of a movie I just watched yesterday, and I thought that it was important especially in these days of cloning, genetic testing, what have you.

This movie was made over ten years ago (1997) and stars Ethan Hawke as a genetically "inferior" man who uses the identity of a genetically "superior" man (Jude Law) to make his dreams of space travel come true. It sounds like a silly premise, but this movie speaks volumes to the dangers of eugenics and playing God with genetics.

In the movie, the world is separated by who was natural born and who was genetically engineered to be superior or perfect (perfect hair color, perfect eyes, etc.). In a world where women lop off their breast because they have the cancer gene(not the cancer itself!) and where newborns will have their DNA extracted, with or without parental consent, I think movies like this are going to become increasingly important.

Holistic Circumcision

Its been a while since my last post (over a month!). I have been extremely busy with school and other things so I have not been able to post on here. However, I am almost done with this semester, so I will be posting a lot more frequently than before.

I wanted to continue the theme of raising babies naturally and healthfully, so I have posted a link for people who would like to circumcise their sons in a more humane and less painful/stressful manner. The website is Holistic Circumcision.

This is an important resource for parents who still believe in the virtues of the Biblical practice of circumcision, but would like it to be as gentle on their son as possible. I hope this is helpful!

Update (Oct, 4 2009): I have since reversed me view of circumcision and now I believe it to be a horrendous practice. Through research I have found out that the circumcision described in the Bible is not as barbaric as the practice done in hospitals today. I have removed the above website from my sites of interest and do not promote it anymore.

New Sites of Interest

Just wanted to post some website that I think are pretty useful.

The first one I have talked about a few times on this blog, it is Natural Birth and Baby Care.

I provides some invaluable information for raising a healthy baby, naturally.

The second one is one that I think is important because I have read a lot of negative things about circumcisions, but I really do not buy into the negative hype. The website is about holistic circumcision, and it is a really helpful resource for those who want to circumcise their sons naturally, with minimal pain to the child.

The third website is a website that details the milestones that babies should be reaching as the grow.

I will be adding these websites to my sites of interest area on the right-hand side of this blog, beneath the poll. I hope that these website prove to be useful.

Update (Oct 4. 2009): I no longer support circumcision, just a want to let you all know! I am against it now.

New Study about Pop Music

A new study by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shows that popular music of today is filled with mostly sexual themes, a great portion of which is classified as degrading.

This really comes as no surprise to me because in order to be a popular musician, you have to write and produce these kind of songs. You cannot really even blame the music industry too much either, because even though they produce it, it is the consumer that laps up the negative themes portrayed in these songs.

What does this have to do with health, you might ask? Well, it has a lot to do with health because music contributes to whether or not there are positive themes in our hearts and minds. Listening to such music non-stop, which is what the typical teenager does, puts negative thoughts and images in our minds.

The study went on to point out that such music can influence the youth towards risky sexual behavior, and with the rising rates of sexually transmitted diseases, such risky behavior is something no one wants.

The Apostle Paul wrote something that I think everyone can get something out of:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phili. 4:8)

Can any justify the sexually charged music of today as being all the things described above? Can any make the case that such music is important to society? I am not writing this to bash the music industry, because as I have stated before, it is not entirely their doing. People in today's society crave depravity, and that is something that needs to be reversed.

Natural Baby Care

To Continue this week's theme of natural family and baby care, I am going to write about baby care that is not only wonderful for the family as a whole, but for the environment as well.

First, one technique that I thought was interesting and a great alternative to cloth and commercial diapers a like is the elimination communication technique (or infant potty-training as I like to call it). This technique requires a few diapers in the beginning, but as you pick up the baby's cues or signals that he (or she) needs to use the bathroom, it becomes easier. A great book on the subject would be Infant Potty Training by Laurie Boucke. This would be a great way to be eco-friendly and teach the child how to eliminate waste early on in life. Though this technique is aimed at infants, it can be used on older babies and toddlers as well.

Lastly, the most important natural baby care thing to do is to breast-feed, Breast-feed BREAST-FEED! I used such strong emphasis because it is very important for the baby that it is breast fed. The only time a baby should not be breast is if for some reason the mother is unable (HIV/AIDS or some other disease that makes it unsafe to breast feed). Natural breast milk provides all the nutrition a baby needs early on in life, provided the mother eats nutritiously, and creates a wonderful bond between mother and child. But, for those who cannot breast-feed, raw organic goats milk is the best alternative (cow's milk contains proteins that most babies cannot digest). Soy formula should not be used because it contains soy protein which deprives the body of minerals and some vitamins, so only organic, raw goats milk should be used (if that is unavailable, just use organic goats milk).

An additional tip for breast-feeding is to learn different feeding positions. We all of pictures in our head of mother sitting upright in a rocking chair feeding the baby, but breast-feeding doesn't have to be that static. Try breast-feeding the baby while lying down. This way, the mother can sleep and the baby can eat, and that means both won't be very fussy later! Also, this allows the mother to get much need sleep while her baby is feeding, after all a well rested mother can lead to more quality time with the baby as well as other family members (husband, other children).

Featured Website of the Week

I did a post a week or so ago about my new-found respect for Traditional Chinese Medicine and medicinal Chinese herbs. So it seems only natural that I post as my featured website of the week the website, Plant Cures.

I have been trying for months to find a non-conventional method of getting rid of uterine fibroids for a friend. The conventional method (hysterectomy) was very troubling to me because I know that method would cause undue hormonal imbalances. I also learned recently that hysterectomies contribute to osteoporosis, so I definitely did not want my friend to got through that kind of heartache.

I was so elated to find this website! It has so much wonderful information, and a lot of good herbs that help with many problems. I am especially interested in the He Shou Wu, because it helps get rid of gray hairs and generally makes you healthier.

I hope you, the reader, finds this website useful to your many needs, it certainly has helped me.

I knew it!!

photo by Mike Adams of http://www.naturalnews.com
photo URL: http://www.naturalnews.com/cartoons/wheel-of-salmonella_600.jpg

Whilst perusing the articles on Natural news, I came across Mr. Mike Adams latest satirical drawing (very entertaining by the way) which I have posted above. The ensuing commentary beneath the cartoon struck me the most. It solidifies a long held fear that this whole tomato-salmonella non-sense was merely an attempt by FDA big-wigs to push food irradiation (which is essentially the process of nuking your food).

They create a problem (or simply not reveal the true source of the problem), make people sick, people demand something be done, the FDA mandates all produce be irradiated, and thus ends any semblance of health this nation once had.

I think people need to get over their fear of germs and bacteria. We live in an environment that is teaming with bacteria and viruses, there is no way to escape it! If you isolate yourself from all the germs, all you are going to end up with are immensely sick people. That is what is happening in the United States, I believe. I used to be a huge "germophobe", but I have since changed my ways and adopted a more mature relationship with bacteria. Bacteria is not bad if your Immune System is good, and your Immune System will not be good unless you expose yourself to bacteria and viruses.

More importantly than the general public resolving their fear of bacteria and germs, the Health Organizations need to wake up, or stop their fear-mongering, or some combination of both.

All in all, I had a stinking suspicion about the motives behind scaring the public into a tizzy about salmonella poisoning, and though there haven't been any admissions or calls for massive food irradiation, I think that in the coming weeks, we will see more of that.

Chinese Herbs

For a while now, I have been trying to shy away from herbs because like many, I thought that herbal medicine is just some form of quackery. But lately, I have been reversing my position.

I read this article on Natural News that peaked my attention. First, I was reading about the Schizandra Berry and its many "adaptogenic" effects. I can't really with any intelligence begin to describe the ins and outs of this herb, but from what I've read, it is very potent and can help with most problems.

I also have been reading about how Chinese medicine has been far ahead of Western Medicine for centuries.

I will bring more information as I get it, so stay tuned...

The Worst Part About the Natural Health Movement

It was 4 years ago when my entire view of health, nutrition, and medicine turned around. Before 2004, I could eat anything and not think twice about; I could just not have to worry too much about reading labels. Before that time, I knew next to nothing about natural health, good nutrition, and frankly, I shared the same prejudiced and biased view of those in the natural health community - that they were all a bunch of quacks who were just trying to stir things up. Before that fateful year, when everything was so uncomplicated, high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, GMO's, pesticides didn't exist or matter, that was for other people to debate about - not me.

Who knew a simple 30-minute infomercial could change a whole life? It was a Sunday, at around 8am, before Meet the Press, I saw with my brothers and dad an infomercial about a new and controversial book: Natural Cures 'They' Don't Want You To Know About by Kevin Trudeau. Its amazing that before that very moment, I was as ignorant and unknowing as the next person. It made me see life as it was then, and life as it could be.

After watching the infomercial, buying and reading the book, I was able to see this whole new world of health that offered more answers than I could imagine. The book made me research, it made me want to learn, it made me grow. But it also made me stressed, and it made me worry about things that I could change. I began to worry about everything: how many vegetables me and me family were not eating, how little nutrients we actually were getting, the almost non-existent exercise I was getting. Everything was magnified, and every thing that went into my mouth came under intense scrutiny. Whether it was pizza, ice cream, cookies: whatever it was, it received a lot of attention and a lot of thought. Even today, thoughts of the unfair treatment the natural health movement has received in the media - from snide episodes of Seinfeld to the propaganda of main stream media - can keep me up for hours at night and keep me from sleeping.

The unending stress and worry the I feel is well worth it, however. I have learned so much in my 4 years of study, and I was really blessed by God to have been able to learn the things I have, done the things I have done, and been able to help myself and my family to become healthier and ultimately, happier. I now know how to keep my future family happy and healthy, and I am still learning about that every day. But I have developed a deep love for learning all about true health and nutrition, and not just what I see on The Today Show. I hope I am able to spread the word as much as I can about natural health, and I hope to join the many natural health practitioners myself by becoming a naturopathic nutritionist, so in the end, all the stress, all the hardship, all the heart ache was well worth it.

Since the book was published, many have sought to discredit it and make it seem like Kevin Trudeau is a fraud. As if all the things he said in the book were false. Whether or not he is a fraud, I cannot judge; however, I can discern that most of what he said was true, and that he did a good work by exposing millions to the world of Alternative Medicine, offering many answers that conventional medicine has suppressed and kept from the public. So what is the worst part about the Natural Health Movement? -- the stress that comes with being so health-conscious, but being so health-conscious is also what makes it great because you reap the benefits of your concern.

At any rate, I want to say once more that I am so very grateful to God and all the answers he has given and also for all of his wonderful creations.

Far Infrared Heat Sauna

The last few weeks, I have been consumed with studying more about purchasing a far infra red heat sauna. From what I've been reading, this is the best type of sauna for health. It aides in weight loss(600 calories in half an hour! Not just water either, fat too!), cleansing the skin, relieving stress, relaxing muscles, and many more wonderful things.

Far infra red is a spectrum of light that emanates from the sun. These are not the UVA rays or UVB rays, but healthy rays that promote cleansing properties. This type of sauna is better because it deeply penetrates the skin and tissue, cleansing the tissue and healing.

Like many healthy products and tools, the sauna's tend to be on the expensive side. But not overly so. Some very between $1800-$6000, while I've seen some as low as $1300.

I like them and am hoping to raise enough funds to get one later this summer or later this year.

The Growing Importance of Vitamin D

The " sun-shine" vitamin (my favorite name for it) or vitamin D is having new functions attached to it. For the longest time, it was thought that vitamin D only played a role in bone health, as nothing more than a "help-meet" if you will for calcium and phosphorus. Now-a-days, its role in various biological functions is becoming more apparent.

As a side note, you would think that we would regard this vitamin higher since our body has very many vitamin D receptors. But, we often find ourselves making the important things smaller than they really are.

Anyway, two articles on sciencedaily.com pointed two the importance of vitamin D. One article relays how vitamin D can help prevent type I diabetes.

This next article, however, really speaks to an important issue: how seemingly healthy children can really be vitamin D deficient. It is some common today for people to think if you look healthy, well, then you are healthy. That is not always the case.

All in all, we need to get over this fear of the environment. "The sun will Kill you! The sun will KILL YOU!" that is the mantra of modern medicine. They say you need sun block to protect you from the sun and skin cancer, but those sunscreens probably cause cancer. Just get appropriate amounts of sun exposure (about fifteen minutes per day for lighter toned people; people of darker complexions need more time) and take plenty of raw milk and vitamin D!

Should Raw Milk be Illegal?

The other day, I was reading an article from nbcnews.com that begged the question “should raw milk be illegal?” To me, that seems like such a dumb question to be posed because, as a U.S. citizen, I should have a right to choose which services I will use and which products I will buy. Limiting that is limiting my and others constitutional rights.

Another reason why that is a silly question is because as harmless as raw milk is, why would anyone waste money and resources trying to outlaw it? With skyrocketing gas prices and a seemingly never-ending war of injustice, you would think that there would be things higher on the food chain than banning raw milk. But I guess if congress can ignore the soaring monetary deficit in favor of baseball proceedings, they can do something else that is completely unnecessary and cave to FDA lobbyists.

Raw milk should NOT be made illegal because it helps so many people. I know the fat cats at big pharma and agricultural business do not want people to have access to this wonderful asset, but many people need it. I used to be a pasteurized milk enthusiast, but that was until I came across health sources that pointed me in the right direction. As a pasteurized milk drinker, I used to get bad stomach aches several times a week, and I kept gaining weight. When I switched to drink raw milk however, I felt healthier and better. My skin got brighter, I lost weight, I slept better – overall, I was healthier! And then I started to make kefir from raw milk, and now I am healthy as a horse!

Now, I know some people have not experienced such stellar from drinking raw milk results as I have; however, I think that people should still be given the option to be free and choose whatever they want.

To sum up, I <3>

Going Natural: Keeping Hair Natural

With so many harsh detergents in hair products today, I decided a few weeks ago to go natural. So far it has been an interesting experience to say the least. Since I am so used to perming, frying, relaxing, flat-ironing: basically just destroying my hair, I have decided to really just cut it out. But, my hair is beginning to adjust to being in its natural state, so it is starting to look good.

I have curly hair, and I should embrace it, not tease it into something its not. God gave it to me for a reason, so I will do what I can to make it look right. That was my reasoning behind going natural. Plus, I like the way I look with curly hair more than straight hair.

Now, I discovered something called the Curly Girl Method (not to worry guys, it is really a unisex kind of method). In this method, from what I understand, you begin to retrain your hair -- if your like me, you used the above methods to straighten your hair.

Before I go on, if you decide to do this, you have to be committed to doing it. It cannot be like a one-time thing, it has to be important enough to you that you want to stick to it.

Continuing on, you need to do the following things:
*Stop brushing hair
*Stop combing hair when it is dry
*Stop using shampoos with sulfates in them
*Stop using conditioners with silicones(Dimethicone) in them
*Stop drying hair with towels (unless it is microfiber)
*Air dry most of the time
But before these steps are taken, you must clarify your hair by using your sulfate-full shampoo one last time (to remove silicones) but never again -- at least not for a long time.

Another thing to do is to whenever possible, use as many natural products as you can. Apple Cider Vinegar is good for cleansing the hair, and many swear by Aloe Vera Gel (I love the stuff!). Many also use honey, raw shea butter, Expeller-pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil; really, you are not as limited product wise as you think. Henna is a wonderful natural product. It is a great conditioner and coloring agent, and is far superior in coloring capabilities than commercial products.

There is a ton of information on this here. Also, if any of the people on that site are reading, I would just like to say publicly that they have helped me a great deal. I would still be lost hair-wise without their help!

So, embrace your God-given gifts, and embrace your hair. It is for your health and peace of mind. You might get ridicule because you are trying something new, but in the end, it will be well wort it!

Raw Foods How-To

Raw foods are very important to maintaing good health because they contain substances(antioxidants and phytonutriets) that are essential to preventing certain diseases. For example, broccoli and tomatoes both have phytonutritients in them that assist in preventing cancer. These vital nutrients are often lost in the cooking process, and the food is, if it is over cooked, lackluster because it really does not have any nutritional value.

Raw foods in addition to phytonutritents contain vitamins and minerals that are destroyed in the process of cooking. Important vitamins such as vitamin A, E, C, K are all sensitive to the high heats they are often exposed to. But once you take heat out of the picture, you are left with vitamin-filled foods that will aid you in many of your health problems.You may even find that once you begin to juice and consume more raw foods, issuess such as sleep disruption and pain, to smaller issues like acne and skin rejuvanation, and most certainly weight loss can be assited by these necessary vitamins.

So, it is important to consume as many raw, nutrient-dense foods as often as possible. Though going totally raw is something that would probably be most beneficial, most of us don't want to do that--me included. To remedy that, going totally raw is not a necessity; however, eating more fresh salads and juiced vegetables/fruits, would be a great way to start! I plan on starting my own raw food diet sometime this summer, so I'll keep you posted on that. If you have decided to go raw, you will need to know a few things.

If you want to do all your food preparation with raw foods, there are somethings that are not necessarily a must, but it would be helpful to have them. Purchasing a dehydrator and a good quality food processor/juicer. Without these tools you can certainly be a raw foodie, but these things make the food a lot more similar to the kinds of foods you used to eat, except they have the nutrtional value that would have been lost during the cooking process.

What makes a good quality food processor/juicer. Well, for one thing, it has to have low RPM (meaning it has to be slower machine) because the higher speed juicers frequently get too hot and destroy enzymes necessary for digestion of the food. This is particularly true for juicing carrots and apples. Food processors/juicers tend to be on the expensive side; so, it isn't for those who can't afford it (quality juicers run anywhere from $235-$2,000).

Finally, the best foods for going raw would be beans, alfalfa, milk (raw milk is a must!), nuts, broccoli, leafy vegetables, carrots, apples, watermelons, just about any fruit or vegetable!
Note: if it isn't apparent, you shouldn't try to juice bananas (duh! right?). Seems like a stupid precaution, but it is surprising how often such mistakes can be made.

Those are the basics. There is a wealth of information on this topic on google as well as here.