Flax Seed Benefits: Kitchen Secrets

Every morning I eat freshly ground flaxseeds in homemade cottage cheese w/ flaxseed oil (whipped up) with a pinch of honey and fresh fruit. It is called FOCC. The benefits of flaxseed oil and freshly ground flaxseeds for lignens are endless.

IMPORTANT TIP: don't just eat the seeds whole. They will pretty much come out looking the same way they went in. It is very important that you grind up the flaxseeds before consuming them. You can just throw them in a coffee grinder like I do. It is really easy! Preferably, you want to eat them less than an hour after grinding them in order to get the most nutritional benifits.

If you are interested in learning more about the benifits of flax, I would be glad to send you the resources I have gathered. Also, you should be able to find my recipe for my FOCC in the archives .
Have a great day!!!
Barbara

Flax Seed Benefits: Kitchen Secrets
9/17/2009 3:39:18 PM
by Ariel Tilson
Tags: Baking, Tips, flax, Flaxseed, Egg Substitutes, Ground Flaxseed

No matter how many times I check my cupboard before I bake, it seems I’m always missing an ingredient. However, next time I’m out of eggs I won’t have to worry because I’ve found an even healthier substitute: flaxseed. You only need to add 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed to 3 tablespoons of water (or 1 tablespoon of whole flaxseed to 4 tablespoons of water) to get the same baking benefits as you would with eggs.

I already knew that flaxseed had a myriad of benefits, from protecting your colon to preventing heart disease, but I wasn’t sure whether I'd like how it tasted until last night. Eggs have always seemed like a baking staple to me, so I decided to do a taste test and see if my picky taste-buds could really enjoy egg-less baking.

I started with a small batch of traditional chocolate chip cookies and for the next batch I substituted my flaxseed replacement for the water. Amazingly, I actually liked the flaxseed batch better! The flaxseed chocolate chip cookies had a softer, chewier texture and a richer, nutty flavor. In fact next time I decide to bake I’m going to use flaxseed, even if my fridge is full of eggs.

How to Stay Safe During Flu Season

Barbara Lovas, ThD

During the flu season you will need to make sure you are taking mega amounts of vitamin C, D, and magnesium, your amino acids, enzymes, antioxidants, probiotics, healthy oils and lots of distilled water.
... so here is my quick list of things you should be eating/doing during the flu season:

• lots of fresh dark veggies
• fresh (cut it yourself) pineapple for extra enzymes
• lots of cilantro/parsley for antioxidants (if you accesss to wheat grass, drink an ounce at least daily)
• no less than a minimum of 4000 mg of vitamin C daily -- you can make your own for cheap, if you can't find instructions in my archives, ask me how to make it (it's really easy).
• drink your kefirs (milk and water kefir) and yogurt for your B's, amino acids and probiotics
• drink kombucha daily (look in my archives for recipe, I can give you a scoby to make it)
• eat fermented foods daily: Kim Chi or sauerkraut are great (you can make it and store once every week or so and store it in your fridge).
• cod liver oil daily (during cold seasons) for vitamins D, A and omega/fatty acids
• lots of distilled water and teas (NO SUGAR! but you can do honey or stevia) for hydration and antioxidants.
• bathe in sea salt and Epsom salt regularly (soak for a good while and try not to use soaps if you can). They can clog your pores and also mess up your skin's natural flora. Soak long enough til you get a good sweat.
• Get out in the sun (when you can) at least 15 to 20 mins daily. No sunscreen or sunglasses ... enjoy the sun.
• take honey (and pollen from a radius of 50 miles or less, if you suffer from allergies)
• add celtic sea salt to your foods (lots of minerals!)

All the above things are just basics. I didn't include every nutrient, vitamin and benifit for each "to do" item. I only wrote the most important reasons to support each suggestion.

Enjoy your Fall Season!!!
Barbara

More Organic Ways to Combat Dandruff

Dr. Mercola suggests sleeping all night with Selsun Blue or Head and Shoulders wrapped in a towel will get rid of dandruff. In fact I have suggested that to others (not over-night, but leaving it on the scalp for 30 mins to an hour). It does work, but it leaves your hair pretty dried out and it does have some added ingredients that are pretty harsh. Soaking all night in them can't be too good -- but let me stress, as Dr. Mercola stated, I would prefer to do that over using some of the dangerous medicines some would recommend.

Here is my suggestion as to an more organic alternative to the above method (but I would have to admit, doesn't smell as good). I have seen great success for severe cradle cap for a 5 year old child and also severe dandruff with this method: leave kombucha on the scalp at least 15mins to 30mins (it is best to be in a hot bath in order to open the pores) ... after soaking, lightly rinse with clean water, then saturate scalp w/ coconut oil and leave the coconut oil on the scalp over night. Use a comb to carefully comb away the dry skin flakes. With severe cradle cap you might feel tempted to pick at the large flakes. Don't pick at the skin. Instead saturate the head with the coconut oil and massage the oil in well. It will eventually all comb out after a few time of doing this process. You can use apple cider vinegar, kefir or kefir whey also in the same way.

You may also use a very small amount of oregano, myrhh, or geranium oil mixed with your coconut oil. Some suggest tea tree oil. I find that it can be too harsh for some people. One person even suggested using sesame seed oil. It seems like it might be a good suggestion. I know some people have found great success using the oil pulling method with sesame seed oil for bad gums.
I don't know anything about it, but I am interested in learning more about the use of sesame seed oil in fighting dandruff.

Something worth considering: If you show signs of fungus in your body in any way, I would suggest that you tackle it internally. I think it is very important that you realize the urgency of cutting out all white sugar, sugar substitutes and food additives. Drink and eat foods that are full of probiotics (friendly bacteria) and foods that will balance your PH levels. There is a high chance that your body is very acidic. Try to eat foods that cause your body to become more alkaline. Fixing your PH balance can improve your general all-over health, including skin and fungal issues.

Here is a link to Dr. Mercola's article, which was the catalyst to my response:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/06/30/Whats-Your-Best-Advice-for-Dandruff-Heres-Mine.aspx

Though I haven't tried this one myself, I would recommend this suggestion written by nutritionmomof2, taken from comments to Dr. Mercola's posted on his site in response to his article. Read below:

I know lot of people with severe dandruff from all races and ages and this works
every time for very little money. Leave organic apple cider vinegar on the scalp
for 10 minutes. Wash hair using Dr. Bronner's unscented liquid castile soap + 2
drops myrrh oil + 3 drops rosemary oil for non-ethnic hair. For natural or
relaxed ethnic hair, wash using Dr. Bronner's liquid unscented castile soap + an
equal amount of organic olive oil and 2 drops myrrh oil + 3 drops rosemary oil.
With repeated use, the vinegar tends to leave natural ethnic hair dull, but the
rosemary oil returns the shine. Condition hair using a recipe of 1/4 cup organic
coconut milk + 1 egg + 1 tsp olive oil. Between washings, use of a small amount
of organic coconut oil on the scalp to prevent dandruff return. I agree about
the hair implements and I clean mine every time I wash with vinegar for 10
minutes, then rinse with water. I have more natural recipes at http://www.thetakebacktour%20.com/
nutritionmomof2

I hope the above information is helpful. If you are interested in finding out more about kefir, kombucha or aklaline foods; feel free to go through my archives and follow the links I have provided.

The Brain Functions Even after Death / My commentary

This article proves AGAIN that there is life after death ...read this whole article, especially towards the end of it. This is written from a secular perspective. Notice: these scientists don't understand why or how it works, as far as being able to see what is going from the vantage point of looking from the ceiling -- down towards the body; even though the patient's eyes and ears have been sealed closed and the blood has been drained out of their brain... and the brain had NO sign of activity at all!

We are "fearfully and wonderfully made," as the scriptures say! Each of us will choose our eternity, either in Heaven or Hell. None of us knows when we will breathe our last breath. The bible says, "it is appointed to every man to die once and after that is judgement." How many people who say there is no God will face the truth of this scripture in Luke 12:20 NIV?
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you." Sad, but true!

Let's continue to pray for those who say there is no God, that they see the light before it is too late.

Love in Christ, Barbara

Brain Functions Even After Death: Health Blog

Posted By: Jon Barron | May 28, 2009 7:19 AM

According to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association, death is legally defined as the "irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem." So how, then, do we explain the fact that up to 20 percent of those who die and then are brought back to life report that they retained consciousness even during the near-death experience? How do we explain the common phenomenon of seeing the black tunnel with the light at the end and the gathered dead relatives? Is consciousness a function of the seemingly inert brain, or does it reside somewhere outside of the "vital functions of the organism"?
For many years, scientists have been trying to resolve these questions through research into the physiology of near-death experiences (NDEs). While some attribute the reports of NDEs to the overly active imaginations of the subjects or to mystical origins, most in the medical establishment believe the experiences can be explained by simple physiology. These theories typically center on the idea that physiological changes occur in the brain as it begins to shut down -- only to reverse before actual death. For instance, a 2006 study published in the journal Neurology concluded that the near-death experience is most likely the result of an "REM intrusion" into waking consciousness. In other words, the experience is akin to moving to the zone we occupy between the sleeping and waking states, where aspects of the REM-sleep state spill over into awareness.
Other researchers have asserted that the system emits certain psychoactive chemicals upon death, and that these bring about the NDE "symptoms." Dr. Richard Strassman of the University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, for instance, contends that the pineal gland releases the chemical Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which brings on hallucinations, though he wasn't able to reproduce the effect in most of his test subjects when he administered DMT to them. But then again, lack of evidence should never get in the way of a good theory. Another expert, Dr. Birk Engmann, argues that the near-death experience is simply the manifestation of psychopathological symptoms triggered by brain malfunction, which comes about because of the lack of blood supply to the brain. And Dr. Gerald Woerlee, an Australian researcher, says that experiences of waking consciousness during the NDE actually are the result of the patient being jolted back into consciousness for a few seconds. He does agree that the experience changes the brains of NDE survivors, but his perspective differs dramatically from that of those who believe there's a spiritual explanation.
"The brain function of many of these people who have undergone a near-death experience is altered," Woerlee says. "That's correct. It is altered. Extreme oxygen starvation does change brain function -- because it causes brain damage to the larger cells in the brain."
All of these theories presuppose that though the brain is shutting down -- although it's undergoing physiological changes -- it still has some viability, that it still functions at some level. But new research flushes this idea down the toilet, because at least one subject retained total recall of what happened to her on the operating table when she had absolutely zero measurable brain activity.
According to a report on National Public Radio, the subject, music producer Pam Reynold, "died" of a brain aneurysm, and the only way to save her was to perform an outrageously risky surgery. The physicians chilled her body and then "drained the blood out of her head like oil from a car engine." According to her physician, Dr. Robert Spetzler, she was "as deeply comatose as you can be and still be alive."
In spite of the fact that her brain was completely drained and non-functional (she was effectively brain dead for the entire operation), Ms. Reynold says she "floated to the ceiling" and witnessed 20 people working on her in surgery. Later, she was able to describe, in detail, the surgical instruments used during her operation and comments made by the medical team. Oh by the way, she was able to observe this even though her ears and eyes were covered with impenetrable barriers -- in addition to being brain dead. And, of course, she also had the typical near-death experience of seeing a tunnel with bright light and long-dead relatives.
When Ms. Reynold reported her after-death experience to Dr. Spetzler, he was startled. "From a scientific perspective," he says, "I have absolutely no explanation about how it could have happened."
Neuroscientist Mario Beauregard of the University of Montreal, on the other hand, does have a theory based on his recent study of 15 people who had near-death experiences that might offer an explanation. Dr. Beauregard contends that the mind lives outside the physiology of the brain, so that even when the brain dies, the mind (as opposed to the brain) has the ability to remain aware. In his study, he asked subjects to recall what happened to them when they died as he measured their brain-wave activity via 32 electrodes. According to his findings, the NDE changes brain wave patterns permanently, conferring the individual with an ability to move into a delta state similar to that experienced by monks, yogis, and long-time meditators. And Dr. Beauregard says, "...the near-death experience triggers something at a neural level in the brain. And perhaps this change, in terms of brain activity, is sort of permanent." Taking his ideas to the next step, this would mean that the mind alters the brain.
Does Ms. Reynold's experience mean that there's life after death, that the "mind" survives the body? Not necessarily. All it means is that all of the "scientific" explanations for the NDE phenomenon proffered so far don't hold up, that we have no rational explanation at all for reports of consciousness after death. We do know from existing research that most people who come back from dying have a greater capacity to deal with stress, that many report feeling spiritually awakened by the experience, and that a significant number report nearly identical experiences of seeing light, meeting deceased dear ones, and of observing and hearing things they shouldn't have been able to perceive given that they were dead. But everything science thought true about death being defined by the absence of brain activity is thrown into question -- as is the advisability, I must say, of harvesting organs when brain activity ceases. Based on this new evidence, the implications of what brain dead-people might be experiencing when their organs are removed, as Hamlet said, "Must give us pause."
P.S. A new large-scale scientific study of the near-death experience was launched this past year. The study, headed by Dr. Sam Parnia and colleagues at the Cornell Medical Center, is a three-year project involving 25 major medical centers and 1500 patients who survived cardiac arrest. Stay tuned!
:hc

Cheese & Butter making Workshop

Sunday, June 14th from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Holy Angel Convent (3500 Saint Claude Ave -Bywater neighborhood). Unavailable to find traditional dairy products at stores around your neighborhood! Kathia Duran and Barbara Lovas will walk you through the techniques of making yogurt, Kefir, cream fraiche, Creole Cream Cheese and European-style butter at home. Cost $10 per person. You must reserve spot by contacting kathia@LatinoFarmersCoop.org. Workshop is limited to 20 people.

To Teach Sign Language to Babies or Not

Published by bblovas1

I never cease to be amazed that often the same people who will say that it is a wonderful thing to teach hearing babies sign language are the same people who will discourage the use of sign language with deaf or hard of hearing babies.
Parents of deaf and hard of hearing children have told me horror stories of their experiences of being told to ignore their child’s gestures. The most heart wrenching illustration given to me was where a parent was instructed to actually turn away their gaze from their child signing the word, “milk”… to ignore the child’s prodding and pulling, to ignore the child’s pulling the parent to the fridge… to IGNORE the child until the child said the word ”milk.” I once spoke to a mother whose daughter was in an oral program for the deaf and hard of hearing. The mother was totally distraught and in tears because her deaf daughter was disciplined for signing the “I love you” sign that she had learned during the weekend while playing with one of her neighborhood hearing friends.

On the other hand, parents of hearing children will tell you that it is the “IN” thing to do: to teach your baby sign language. It is applauded by doctors and parents alike. Why is sign language good for one and not for the other?
First of all, as parents, it is not easy to accept the idea that our child might be “imperfect.” Whether we, as the parent, want to admit it or not; we live vicariously through our children. Any deficiency in our children is often believed (if perhaps only on a subconscious level) to be a direct reflection on us and our deficiencies as parents, or as human beings.

All of us also know very well what it feels like “wanting to fit in” or wanting to be “normal.” Keeping this in mind, let’s go back to my topic: why would we applaud teaching a hearing child sign language and discourage the deaf child from learning sign language? I would suggest that this rationale has more founding in relationship to our own fears than any scientific reasoning:

Science has proven that once a second language is introduced, language comprehension is expanded exponentially. Consequently, each additional language is learned with that much more ease. Spoken language, such as English, is a linear language. American Sign Language is a spacial language. Most don’t realize it, but sign language is a language; with all the markers of a true language. Teaching a baby sign language ignites neuro-pathways of language at an early age; thus, enhances the ability to attain language in general. That is why parents of hearing children are so hyped with the thought of teaching their babies sign language. They see the results!

Before a child can talk, they gesture. Gesturing is a natural transition into language. Babies not only can recognize and learn signed words easily, but also show the ability to group words together in sentence-like structures in order to make known their desires — before they are able to express their desires in spoken language. It is a fact that a child can hear instruction and understand it, before they can speak.

A deaf or hard of hearing baby has the same natural instinct to gesture. They have the same ability to sign as a hearing child would. Again, it is a natural transition. Yet, we take away their first language and expect them to speak — though they have not heard! We expect them to read our lips, when the most skilled adult lip readers, at best, catches less than 10% of what is spoken. You are probably asking is, “If they understand less than 10% of what is lip-read, how do they actually know what is being said?” The answer is, they use natural closure skills … which a baby or child has not yet fully developed. Closure and reasoning skills are developed via repetitive exposure and access to the stimulus of everyday experiences and communication norms. How dare we cut off the first language of a child, and expect that child to experience anything less than frustration and feelings of inadequacy?

We must focus on the need of the child, instead of our own need to fix the child to LOOK normal. The child’s need for fundamental language must be met. Anything less than that is neglect.

Focus on providing “total communication.” Give them language and you will open up the world to them. They can learn sign language, go to speech therapy and even study English composition, literature and other foreign languages… the sky is the limit!!!

The Law of Reciprocity (something our grandfathers understood)

published by bblovas1

Just as we witness the natural laws of physics everyday and take them for granted. We even more overlook the simple law of reciprocity.

Everyday we see a affect of gravity at work. We know that if we throw a ball up in the air it, will fall back to the ground. We are not stupid enough to throw an anvil up and hope it will float away: we know it will fall straight down, and perhaps land on our head if we don’t move out the way fast.

Likewise, we see the affects of the law of reciprocity daily, yet by our action we prove that we don’t get it! Reciprocity isn’t a word we use everyday, but we do experience it everyday. Every time you eat a salad or enjoy the beauty of a flower you are benefiting from reciprocity.

Reciprocity is the return of like kind of offering. A plant gives up a seed and in return it makes a whole new plant. I am sure as you were growing up you heard the saying,” What goes around, comes around.” That is a true principle. If you are willing to cheat a friend, you will most likely choose the same type of friends as yourself, who will ultimately cheat you. If you are willing to have an affair with a married person, and they leave their spouse for you. You will undoubtedly have the fear that they will leave you too. Even if they never leave you, the guilt alone or the fear of it possibly happening can be crippling and enough steal the closeness of the relationship you thought you had. It is a matter of reaping what you have sown.

Another saying you probably heard is, “One good shake deserves another.” Apparently our grandparents had a grasp of reciprocity. Back then, a handshake or a verbal contract meant something. Our grandfathers understood that a good name was better than riches; and that going to bed with a clear conscience was reward enough for a hard day’s work. Apparently they understood much better than us what the bible meant by, ” Do unto others as you would have done unto you” … in layman’s terms, “treat others the way you want them to treat you.” Why? Because they understood reciprocity.

The Bible says, Give and it shall be given to you, pressed down shaken together and running over shall man give unto you.” It also says, ” If you have done [a good thing] for the least of your brethren, you have done it unto ME [God]. In the Bible, in Malachi, chapter 3, God talks about how people rob HIM by not giving Him the tithes and offerings that He has required. He challenges us to “test him to see if He will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing too big for us to receive. ” God has set certain laws into place: some physical and some spiritual.

Jesus said that true religion is demonstrated by us taking care of the widows and the orphans. God has told us several times to give to others and to take care of the needy, yet we hold back our money from God and ignore the needs of our fellow man … and wonder why we struggle to pay our own bills. It is time we woke up and realized the law of reciprocity is at work, whether we like it or not.

Some have built personal empires using those principles: the founder of Wendy’s, the founder of Walmart, Bill Gates … and one you might not have thought of as being rich: Mother Theresa. She was spiritually rich.

Reciprocity is at work among us everyday. Reciprocity is a principle that is applies to all — just as gravity is applies to us all. Knowing this should help you in making better decisions in what you choose to do today. Learn to give, learn to love, learn to lend to those who can’t repay you and be honest when no one else is looking … you will reap a good return!