My Favorite Yahoo Groups!

If you have never been a member of a Yahoo Group, you are missing out on a wealth of shared information. You will meet the most wonderful people with like interests, experience or training. I cannot count the times that I have had to rely on the expertise of my fellow Yahoo Group members to find resources and information that I could find no where else. Check out these groups: they are my favorites!!! If you don't want to be bombarded with each e-mail as they come in from each member, sign up to receive the daily log instead of individual e-mails.

http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=EnzymesandAutism@yahoogroups.com
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Kefir_making@yahoogroups.com
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=FlaxSeedOil2@yahoogroups.com
Real_Kefir_Making@yahoogroups.com
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=GFCFNN@yahoogroups.com
candidasupport@yahoogroups.com
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=holihome@yahoogroups.com
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=discussingnt@yahoogroups.com

RE-CYCLING UNWANTED ITEMS
http://us.mc656.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=freecycleneworleans@yahoogroups.com -- a wonderful group of people (been a member for abt 5 or 6yrs) ... we exchange unwanted items, instead of throwing them into landfills. There is probably a freecycle in the area where you live. Make a YahooGroup Search for the word "freecycle" to find a group in your area.

What's the Deal with Acidic and Alkaline Foods?

You hear that it is not good for your body to be too acidic... that cancer and all kinds of bad stuff love to live in an acidic environment... then, you hear that Kombucha and lemons are good to eat. Go figure! This explanation might help you: Kombucha can be found in both ACID and ALKALINE lists... because sometimes an acidic food can act as an alkaline and visa versa. For example, lemons are acidic and are actually alkaline forming in the body; therefore, good for you.There are several lists of alkaline and acid forming foods. Here is my favorite list, it is the most concise I have found, PLUS it has lots of explanations for everything in the lists. I copied and pasted the list from the ALKALINE/ACID FORMING FOODS. Please take the time to go to this website and read more about this. There is no reason to re-create the wheel -- the info is there ... it is reader friendly, and has been very well put-together. So, let me make my intro short and sweet, so you can get to the real meat of my message here:

The below list has been copied from their chart information. More info is available at http://www.rense. com/1.mpicons/ acidalka. htm

ALKALINE FORMING FOODS

VEGETABLES
GarlicAsparagusFermented VeggiesWatercressBeetsBroccoliBrussel sproutsCabbageCarrotCauliflowerCeleryChardChlorellaCollard GreensCucumberEggplantKaleKohlrabiLettuceMushroomsMustard GreensDulceDandelionsEdible FlowersOnionsParsnips (high glycemic)PeasPeppersPumpkinRutabagaSea VeggiesSpirulinaSproutsSquashesAlfalfaBarley GrassWheat GrassWild GreensNightshade Veggies

FRUITS
AppleApricotAvocadoBanana (high glycemic)CantaloupeCherriesCurrantsDates/FigsGrapesGrapefruitLimeHoneydew MelonNectarineOrangeLemonPeachPearPineappleAll BerriesTangerineTomatoTropical FruitsWatermelon

PROTEIN
Eggs (poached)Whey Protein PowderCottage CheeseChicken BreastYogurtAlmondsChestnutsTofu (fermented)Flax SeedsPumpkin SeedsTempeh (fermented)Squash SeedsSunflower SeedsMilletSprouted SeedsNuts

OTHER
Apple Cider VinegarBee PollenLecithin GranulesProbiotic CulturesGreen JuicesVeggies JuicesFresh Fruit JuiceOrganic Milk(unpasteurized)Mineral WaterAlkaline Antioxidant WaterGreen TeaHerbal TeaDandelion TeaGinseng TeaBanchi TeaKombucha

SWEETENERS
SteviaKi Sweet

SPICES/SEASONINGS
CinnamonCurryGingerMustardChili PepperSea SaltMisoTamariAll Herbs

ORIENTAL VEGETABLES
MaitakeDaikonDandelion RootShitakeKombuReishiNoriUmeboshiWakameSea Veggies

ACID FORMING FOODS

FATS & OILS
Avocado OilCanola OilCorn OilHemp Seed OilFlax OilLardOlive OilSafflower OilSesame OilSunflower Oil

FRUITS
Cranberries

GRAINS
Rice CakesWheat CakesAmaranthBarleyBuckwheatCornOats (rolled)QuinoaRice (all)RyeSpeltKamutWheatHemp Seed FlourDAIRYCheese, CowCheese, GoatCheese, ProcessedCheese, SheepMilkButter

NUTS & BUTTERS
CashewsBrazil NutsPeanutsPeanut ButterPecansTahiniWalnuts

ANIMALPROTEIN
BeefCarpClamsFishLambLobsterMusselsOysterPorkRabbitSalmonShrimpScallopsTunaTurkeyVenison

PASTA (WHITE)
NoodlesMacaroniSpaghettiOTHERDistilled VinegarWheat GermPotatoes

DRUGS & CHEMICALS
AspartameChemicalsDrugs, MedicinalDrugs, PsychedelicPesticidesHerbicides

ALCOHOLBeerSpiritsHard LiquorWine

BEANS & LEGUMES
Black BeansChick PeasGreen PeasKidney BeansLentilsLima BeansPinto BeansRed BeansSoy BeansSoy MilkWhite BeansRice MilkAlmond Milk

FOCC for Breakfast

• (Flax / Oil and Cottage Cheese) for Breakfast
  
  It is very important to start your day with a big breakfast. Breakfast should be large, lunch -- medium portions, dinner -- small portions. If you are like me, breakfast is easy to neglect. I am not really hungry for breakfast... nonetheless, it is the most important meal of the day. It is the meal following the breaking of a long night's fast (break fast). Soooooooo, I force myself to eat breakfast.
  
  That aside...lets talk about the best breakfast I have found.
  
  If you are already making milk kefir, you are one step ahead of others; because this recipe requires active culture cottage cheese... and if you are a milk kefir maker, you can make your own cottage cheese from your kefir curds. If you don't make your own milk kefir yet, that should be something you should consider doing -- kefir is just amazing stuff!
  
  There is a good chance you have never tasted active culture cottage cheese. Live culture cottage cheese is a totally different thing than regular cottage cheese you buy in the store. You can buy active/live culture cottage cheese in many health food stores. When I do buy it instead of making it, I buy Nancy's ... it is so delicious! You can mix it with any fruit, raisins or kimchee (for a spicy variation) or just plain.
  
  Okay, here what I eat in the morning:
  
• when I wake up I drink a glass of water kefir OR homemade sauerkraut juice (these are made in bulk in advance, all ready and sitting in the fridge)
  then put 2 drops of wild oregano under my tongue and let it dissolve. Here is the kind I buy: http://www.bioinnovations.net/products.asp?dept=1046
  
• then I drink around 2 oz. of orange juice w/ 1/4 tsp of vitamin c powder. (you can make the vitamin C powder yourself, or just buy it already made -- I do both) ... and a full tsp of cod liver oil.
  

then I eat my FOCC. It is important to eat the FOCC within the hour. The lignens are most powerful immediately after they are ground.

INGREDIENTS FOR FOCC

• coffee grinder
• wand/hand blender

1/4 cup flax seeds (freshly ground in a coffee grinder)
3 Tbsp flax oil (I buy B w/out lignens)
6 Tbsp cottage cheese
pinch of raw unprocessed honey
banana
blueberries (small handful)
1/8 - 1/4 cup shredded coconut (natural kind -- without sugar or additives!)
uncooked organic oats (small handful)
(I add other fresh fruit at whim)

Click here to see a video of Sandy making FOCC http://www.budwigvideos.com/ . It is vital that you whip the cottage cheese with the flax seed oil until all the oil is absorbed.

After approx. an hour after I have eaten my FOCC, I take a sublingual B complex (a small tablet under the tongue). Here is the kind I use. They are the best:
http://www.trivita.com/sublingualb12/sublingualb12.com/order/us/?SOURCE=goog&KEYWORD=trivita&gclid=CJ3c1dz3-JcCFQRhswodYlU-Dw&sid=854&mid=24SOURCE=goog&KEYWORD=trivita&gclid=CJ3c1dz3-JcCFQRhswodYlU-Dw&sid=854&mid=24

That is my breakfast! During the day I drink hot organic green tea, herbal mint tea, organic hot black coffee, organic hot chai, kefir water or kombucha and distilled water. If I feel hungry between meals I eat raw almonds.

FOCC is great for people who are suffering with almost anything, including cancer. I actually know of some people who have been sent home to die and started following the Budwig Protocol and are living and doing well today. If you are interested in learning more, here is the group's website FlaxSeedOil2@yahoogroups.com . Also, follow the links suggested by Sandy's video above. There is much more to the Budwig Protocol than FOCC ... I have learned a lot from Dr. Budwig's writings.

How to Get Rid of a Headache

I used to have horrible migraines regularly. My husband could always tell me when I was starting to get a migraine, he would notice my right eye turning in -- sort of like a lazy eye kind of a thing. I haven't needed to take a migraine medicine (over the counter or prescription) in probably 6 years or more years, because I don't get migraine headaches anymore. Here is what I use now:

• Oil of Wild Oregano (Oreganol is a good brand -- and is sold in most health food stores)
  
• Sublingual Vitamin B Complex (look online for TriVita -- that is the best. It costs a little more, but it is worth it!)

2 other very important things that you may consider is getting rid of all forms of MSG and sugar (especially fake sugar).

If you MUST eat sugar, eat natural forms of it: honey, molasses, blue agave or sweet herbs like stevia (stevia is not only a very sweet herb, but is good for you). Try to avoid any white foods (bleached foods). Better forms of sugar are raw organic cane or brown types ... last option white. On the other hand, let me STRESS this point, you are better-off eating white sugar than eating any sugar substitutes. AVOID alllllllllll sugar substitutes like as if your life depends on it. They are soooooo dangerous. On that same note: avoid high fructose corn syrup like the plague!

There is one more IMPORTANT and easy change that you can make right away, stop using white table salt "table poison." Use only natural sea salt; Himalayan and Mediterranean sea salts are the best. They are packed with minerals you need and will not cause all the problems that white processed salt will cause. You can pretty much eat as much sea salt as you want. Our body needs salt. That goes back to that whole electrolyte thing that you probably have heard about, especially when dealing with children with high fever or diarrhea. We all need a balance of salt, potassium and iodine to sustain life.

NOTE: Maintaining a good sugar and salt balance is important. It is how we get the salt and sugars that often will determine our health. For example: an imbalance of our body's sugar will directly affect our hormone secretion, visa versa; hormones secretion regulates our sugars. Get sugars and salts from natural resources.

Also, if after trying the above suggestions you find none of the above things help you, I would advise you to stop eating all forms of gluten (that includes wheat) and corn. If there is still no change, cut out milk (unless in fermented forms, such as kefir and/or yogurt) and peanuts... your headaches might be the result of common allergies.

What about coffee? I would not immediately cut out caffeine as some suggest, unless you are drinking large amounts of caffeine (that in itself will give you withdrawal headaches). One cup of black organic coffee per day is fine in most cases. If after you have tried all the above and you still have headaches, cut out coffee and caffeine.

The best way to figure out your triggers is to isolate the irritants/possible triggers, and see which when eaten or not eaten cause notable differences. In other words, cut-out or add things to your diet one at a time, until you figure out what works best for you. Keeping a journal or log of all you are eating and how you are feeling during that time might be a helpful tool in helping you notice patterns that you might otherwise overlook.

If you think about it, it is really a miracle that we are still alive; considering all the junk we shovel in our mouths. Imagine if we were cars and we substituted gas for junk: what would happen? If God would have made us as well as one of the best engineered cars as you could find, we would be broken-down on the side of the road somewhere for sure! We are for sure, wonderfully and fearfully made by the hand of God. Only God could engineer such a resilient amazing machine.

You can go to my blog and read more info about things in general: I have been trying to gather all my old e-mails and re-format them and any previous written articles and post them on my blog site for easy access.

Broken Resolve: Why setting goals for 2009 is better than making “New Year’s Resolutions”

By Ashley Chin, PhD, MPH, MA

Each year about this time, people ask me, “So, what are your New Year’s Resolutions?” As I have been considering this lately, I’ve decided I’m not making any resolutions this year. Instead, I am developing “Goals for 2009”. What’s the difference you ask? It’s the difference between being disappointed sometime in mid-February and achieving lasting change throughout the year. Turns out, there’s a big difference between resolutions and goals.

Resolutions

• Usually time bound to January 1
• They are often all or nothing, once they’re “broken” they’re over
• Not always specific or measurable
• New Year’s resolutions tend to be huge, lofty goals that don’t always include the intermediate steps

Goals

• Can be made at any time and cover any time period (i.e. annual goals, monthly goals, weekly goals, daily goals)
• Are less rigid and can be measured by the amount achieved
• SMART: Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound
• Well written goals include objectives and action steps

Here’s an example of a typical New Year’s resolution:

2009 New Year’s Resolution: Get healthy.

Not very specific – what does “get healthy” really mean? How will you measure it? How do you know if you can achieve it? Is it really realistic for you to resolve to “get healthy? What is the deadline for this – February 1 or December 31?

Perhaps a better way to improve your health is to set goals for 2009. Here’s an example of one way to formulate goals:

Goal for 2009: Improve overall health by losing weight, controlling stress and improving eating habits.
Objective 1: Lose 10% of current body weight by June 1, 2009.
Action Steps:
1. Find out when Weight Watchers meetings are held and join one convenient to me.
2. Make list of non-food rewards.
3. Reward myself for each 5lb loss.
4. Buy new walking shoes.
5. Walk 20 minutes, 3 X per week.

Objective 2: Utilize stress management techniques at least twice per week, beginning March 1, 2009.
Action Steps:
1. Before March 1, learn about stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, prayer, biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation etc. by asking friends, calling local yoga/fitness facilities and reading books/internet.
2. Try at least three different techniques before March 1.
3. Beginning March 1, utilize a specific stress management technique at least twice per week.

Objective 3: Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day at least 5 days per week and limit alcohol/sweets to 2 days per week, beginning Jan.1.
Action Steps:
Make use of my cookbook collection and try a new vegetable recipe once per week.
Subscribe to the “Meatless Monday” internet newsletter for ideas on incorporating more fruits/veggies into diet.
Once per week, try one new fruit/vegetable I’ve never eaten before.
Invite girlfriends to come over for movie night (with healthy snacks) rather than meeting for drinks.

As you can see, the goals above are much SMARTer – specific, measureable, achievable, realistic and time-bound! Good luck with your goals for 2009.

Ashley is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor with over 15 years of experience. One of her goals for 2009 is to become a certified Wellness coach so that she can help others in their quest for total wellness. She can be contacted at ashleychinphd@gmail.com.

The Skinny on What to DO and What to BUY ... to get a started doing things holistically

This is a VERY BASIC to do list to get you started on a holistic approach to good health...

MOST IMPORTANT:

• Try to get sun at least 15 mins everyday. If you cannot get sun, take cod liver oil for vitamin D and A -- in the summer, when you are in lots of sun, take fish oil everyday instead.
  
  HERE IS A BASIC SHOPPING LIST TO WORK TOWARDS:
  (more herbs and supplements will be added per your personal needs)
  
  raw milk (or organic WHOLE milk)
  raw almonds
  raw / unprocessed honey (best w/in a 50 mile radius)
  garlic
  vitamin c
  vitamin b complex (sublingual --under the tongue)
  oil of oregano-sublingual (for migraines, candida)
  flax, flax oil
  borage oil (for SKIN health)
  coconut oil (for skin, organs, blood sugar and to fight candida)
  fish oil or cod liver oil (depending on season)
  ginger (fresh)
  cayenne -- amazing stuff!!!
  cinnamon -- lowers blood sugar!
  turmeric
  cranberry
  milk thistle
  enzymes -- fresh pineapple and other tropical fruits
  aloe vera plant
  various herb plants
  probiotics -- milk/water kefir, yogurt (homemade)
  sauerkraut or sauerkraut juice (homemade)
  kombucha (homemade)
  aloe vera juice
  teas - green, black, chamomile (make teas w/ spring water)
  1 black coffee daily - if you want (organic)
  sea salt
  fruits
  dark veggies -- eggplants, greens
  good quality proteins: egss, meats ... without hormones/antibiotics
  
• a distiller (to make your own distilled water for drinking)
  
• a water filter (that removes chlorine, but not minerals)
  
• a regular juicer (I like the Jack LaLanne's best)
  
• a masticating juicer (I use the manual kind -- It looks like an old fashioned meat grinder)
  If you buy a masticating juicer you can make your own wheat grass juice. It is VERY good for you (but requires a lot dedication to grow) -- u can buy it directly from a grower (I used to buy a flat for $20 and divide it w/ a friend) OR in little baggies at wholefoods, but its a bit EXPENSIVE -- but if you are having health problems, I feel it is worth the expense.

Sprout your own stuff: alfalfa, beans, almonds, wheat grass ... sprouting anything sproutable makes it that much better for you ... lots of good enzymes!!!

NO SUGAR (you can have honey, stevia, blue agave) -- though ingesting sugar is a no-no, you will need regular white sugar to make kefir and kombucha... don't worry, the kefir and kombucha eat the sugar, so you don't have to.:)

You can eat peanuts and peanut butter, but not much. I don't eat peanut butter as a general rule, but sometimes I do crave a little. Almond butter and other butters can be subbed or added to your peanut butter if you love eating large amounts and don't want to give it up.

No pre-made juices -- make your own. Pre-made juices are like peanut butter. They contain lots of junk. Juices are also too concentrated and too sugary (natural sugars should be taken in whole form)

TRY to avoid gluten: do not eat any wheat, corn or milk (unless keferized)... whenever in doubt, ferment! Wholefoods has a really good gluten free bread in the freezer.

Avoid soy -- it is to be used as a supplement for women's hormonal problems and not as a food. If you want to eat soy, eat it fermented -- you can buy wheat-free natural soy sauce at Wholefoods. No tofu.

If u are dying to eat something sweet, though kefir and kombucha often curb cravings for sweets -- a little dark dark choc w/ all natural ingredients (no flavorings, hydrogenated oils or other junk)
Coconut oil is naturally sweet and u can make cool things w/ it for a sweet tooth.

• WHAT TO USE FOR SKIN PROBLEMS
  
  TOPICALLY for rashes (while taking internally)
  milk kefir -- for yeast/candida -- female yeast infection, thrush, acne
  kombucha -- for fungus -- ringworm, fungus nails, athlete's foot, acne, cradle cap
  vitamin C, tea tree oil -- Warts and some moles, acne
  coconut oil -- yeast/candida, dry skin/hair conditions, cradle cap
  
  blood root (old-fashioned Indian black salve) -- for serious problems (Be very careful about this: They do have people that sell very dangerous counterfeits -- use this under the close supervision of a holistic adviser)

TOPICAL

• lanolin -- extremely dry skin, chapping from nursing, medium for homemade baby ointment
• Puffy eyes -- a potato slice for about 10 mins or used green tea bag (or cold spoon)

GET RID OF...

GET RID OF white table salt. I call it "table poison."

GET RID OF toothpaste w/ fluoride, mouthwashes and pre-washes that have words that you cannot pronounce -- instead floss, Waterpik and scrub your tongue (and if you have bad breathe, you can use Waterpik to clean stones out of your tonsils) ... you can do oil pulling for serious gum problems. Oil of oregano and itty-little-bitty amount of food grade tea tree oil, OR my personal favorite is food grade peppermint oil on the tongue instead of mouthwash. The occasional baking soda OR lemon, strawberry or hydrogen peroxide cleaning is fine (DO NOT SWALLOW peroxide!).

GET RID OF "fat free" and "diet" foods -- eat fats (good fats!), eat everything WHOLE ... if you want to drink milk, at least drink it whole. Your body needs the whole product to use it properly. Eat butter, not margarine. Feel free to use as much good oils as you want (Do not cook olive oil to a high heat). Flax and Borage are best uncooked. You can heat coconut oil.

GET RID OF deodorants w/ aluminum or waxes (I just use salt -- I never ever stink, a good premade one is Lafes Natural and organic Deodorant spray.

GET RID OF Tums and antacids -- Drink milk kefir and/or aloe vera juice for an upset stomach (antacid prescriptions are, in my opinion, very dangerous -- if you are interested in learning more about the dangers of those and other prescriptions, I would be glad to forward you more information)

GET RID OF hair conditioners and that kind of stuff -- use coconut oil, lanolin (when needed) and essential oils mixed in the oil for smell (flax seed oil is good too, but more expensive and not any better than coconut)

GET RID OF perfumes and colognes -- If you can't go without them -- you can keep em, if u don't spray them on your skin. Spray them on your clothes instead if u really want to use them. Remember, you might be suffering from allergic reactions to those things and haven't realized it. Headaches, allergic reactions and sinus problems can be caused by lab formulated scents. Ask me to send you more info about this if you are interested in learning about the dangers of certain scents.

GET RID OF sunblock and bug repellent -- they have natural alternatives which are fine (but a bit expensive). Sunblock in general is poison. Cover up with cotton, just like they did in the old days. If you NEED a sunblock, make your own from broccoli or buy some from the Wholefoods Store OR Dr. Mercola has a real good one.

GET RID OF sunglasses -- let the sun get in your eyes everyday. NOTE: I am not telling you to stare at the sun, but allow the sun to get in your eyes. It is an important part of our optical process (the dilation and response to sun on the back of the eye is important) it is also needed for the brain's proper functioning and is a natural antidepressant. It is no coincidence that God placed a gigantic sun in the sky to shine on us while we work outside or commute to and from work... we were NOT born with sunglasses attached to our heads, but with eyelashes ... and common sense.

• For easier reading, I have given only a limited amount of information per subject.If you found anything in this blog that you want more information on, feel free to ask me for resources.
  
  
  
  

Water Kefir Workshop

I am becoming over-run by happy water kefir grains (curds) ... that means it is time for a workshop again. I have enough for you to bring your friends too!

I will have a water kefir workshop during the Christmas holidays. Sooooooo, if you are interested in learning how to make kefir; I will give you a starter and get you started!

Please reply to this blog and let me know if you are interested in attending and then we will all work out a time to meet together. I am thinking a Sunday afternoon is best for me.

Let me know if you are interested in attending:)

Barbara
in New Orleans