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Though the nightly news tempts you to quake with alarm, as you listen to reports of a potential pandemic, do not react in fear, making rash purchases and decisions. Allowing fear to make your decisions is to allow yourself to be manipulated. Regardless of the name of the newest flu strain, virus or bacteria, one sensible plan still remains. Make your body an inhospitable host to germs and viruses. Flies don’t cause garbage, they’re attracted to it. This holds true for your body as well. Bacteria and viruses live in biological terrain that is unhealthy. Be proactive rather than reactive, with several affordable, common sense solutions to be shared in the next few posts.
- Your skin is your first line of defense. Do not use antibacterial soaps or hand sanitizers as they disrupt the acid mantle of the skin and natural oils which protect against pathogens. Anti-bacterial soaps end up making you more susceptible. Plain soap and water is your best option. If you feel the need for additional protection, add a few drops of Essential Shield essential oil, and/or a small amount of liquid silver to your hand soap. I make my own liquid soap by using Sunshine Concentrate from Nature’s Sunshine. It’s pH is ideal for our hair, skin and nails. I use a few pumps of this concentrate in water along with a few drops of Essential Shield Essential Oil and a small amount of liquid silver and combine in a foaming pump dispenser. All items (except the foaming pump dispenser) are from Nature’s Sunshine, allowing you the convenience of one stop shopping without even leaving your home.
- Nature’s Sunshine Silver Shield gel used on your hands, face, and in your nostrils can give you added protection against pathogens for 4 hours, working with your natural defenses, not against them. I always use the gel before entering a hospital or when I know I am going to a function where there will be lots of hand shaking.
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Nature’s Sunshine Silver Shield liquid supplement is part of my every day regime for supporting my immune system and keeping it at its optimum. Our immune systems must deal with incredible amounts of toxins and pathogens which can leave it overworked, exhausted and compromised. Two teaspoons, twice daily for the average adult works wonders. Keep a large bottle on hand for normal usage. Some have suggested keeping one gallon of silver on hand per person to ride out a true pandemic.
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Keep a tub of diaper wipes in your car. Add ½ cup water that has 1 ounce of Nature’s Sunshine Silver Sol liquid added to it and 5 – 10 drops of Essential Shield essential oil by Nature’s Sunshine and you have an exceptional synergistic blend. I use them after pumping gas, shopping and for quick clean ups around the house. See the Products page for ordering all items (with the exception of the diaper wipes) at wholesale from Nature’s Sunshine.
Silver: a shining shield of protection without side affects!
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He peered through the ICU window into the patient’s room. The patient was his grandfather, whom he endearingly called “Pa” since he was able to talk. Life support was being removed after two years of enduring ALS, the complications delivering their final blow.
Initially, he did not desire to stand at Pa’s side as we removed the final apparatus. However, love had its way, and he was compelled by it to take part in a final farewell as angels attended. Deep emotion escaped with a tear, and I watched as my son stepped into new shoes.
Consider the shoes you’ve grown out of and the shoes you’ve grown into as God has allowed you experiences of both pleasure and pain. With each pair of shoes, we can chose to become a more integrated, enriched pilgrim on this journey through life. Sharing from the heart of personal experience, with authenticity, genuineness and transparency, is one of the greatest gifts you can give another.
New shoes can be stiff and awkward, becoming more comfortable with time. And that’s just about when God will place before you, new shoes to step into.
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Yogurt can be great for your body if it isn’t loaded with sugar, artificial sweeteners and a host of other non-food ingredients. I typically choose a Greek Yogurt, organic if possible and raw would be even better. So now that you have this plain, unsweetened yogurt, what do you do with it to make it appealing?
Breakfast and Snack Ideas:
I choose to sweeten it with honey because honey is alkalizing. I add chopped almonds, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds for texture along with my choice of fruits. Alkalizing fruits include: raisins, dried dates, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, pomegranate, apricots, blackberries and bananas. There are many other healthy choices but they aren’t all alkalizing. Walnuts are an acidifying power house of great nutrients and can be added as well, just remember to try to make 80% of your food choices from the alkalizing category.
Main Dish Ideas:
Use plain yogurt in place of gravy or rich sauces and top your potatoes (with the peel) or other veggies (hot or cold) including your salad. You can also add the following to your yogurt:
- Dill Weed
- Caraway Seed
- Celery Seed
- Cilantro
- Cucumber, seeded
- Garlic
- Lemon or Lime juice
- Parsley
- Chili Pepper
- Miso
- Sea Salt
- Any herb of your choice – they’re all alkalizing
For a fuller bodied topping, you can add oil to the yogurt. Alkalizing choices include olive, avocado, almond, coconut, sesame and safflower. Flax seed oil is another exceptional choice, it just happens to be acidifying.
We make a Greek tasting dip using yogurt, seeded cucumber, dill weed, garlic and sea salt. Pulse together in your food processor and use as a dip or dressing. I like to add loads of fresh veggies to it and make it into a main dish on hot days. No measuring necessary – let your taste buds determine your recipe.
Dessert Idea:
Slice a banana and top with yogurt which has been laced with honey, cinnamon, and chopped almonds. You’ve got an alkalizing bone building fruit, sweetener, spice and nut.
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Broccoli, an alkalizing food, high in calcium, containing compounds for fighting cancer, and an amazing food overall. This easy, oven roasted recipe can also be used with brussel sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, egg plant and even cabbage quarters.
Clean broccoli and separate into small bit size pieces. Drizzle with olive oil, spritz with fresh pressed lemon or lime juice, and season with sea salt.
Using a cookie sheet, spread broccoli out and roast in an oven set at 450 degrees, stirring every 5 – 10 minutes. Roast until slightly tender and starting to char. Can take as long as 30 minutes.
No rules for adding your choice of herbs. Standard favorites of mine include garlic, red pepper flakes and Herbs De’ Provence.
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In building better bones and a better body, you want to incorporate as many ALKALIZING food sources of calcium as well as magnesium, zinc, boron, copper, silicon, manganese, Vitamin D, K, C, B complex as well as Omega 3′s and COQ10.
Today, let’s focus on some of the highest alkalizing food sources of calcium:
- Yogurt, plain
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Lima beans
- Collard greens
- Kale
- Mustard greens
- Sesame seeds
- Flax seeds
- Almonds
This certainly isn’t an exhaustive of list of foods that meet the criteria of being an alkalizing source of calcium, but they are the highest food source of such, making them ideal for part of your foundational foods.
To make things even better, many of these foods provide nutrients that are healing for a number of other conditions providing the body with what it needs to combat illness, disease and premature aging.
Look for recipes to follow to make incorporating these foods into your diet quick and easy. And remember, as often as possible, opt for organic whenever available and affordable.
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The standard fare of cookies and cakes usually dominates our refreshment table at church between services. Recently, one member graced the refreshment table with an elaborate and gorgeous edible arrangement. While normal people enjoyed the fruit, I longingly drooled over the kale, whose only intended purpose was to serve as a backdrop, keeping the fruit in place and looking good. For me, it proved to be a test of self- control. Having no pride, I quickly gained permission from the donor to confiscate the kale as soon as the fruit was gone.
Once home, I put my imagination to work and came up with this delectable, edible science experiment bursting with nutrition and flavor. I promise you, you’ll never look at an edible arrangement the same way again.
Chinese Flavored Kale Chips
Combine:
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup raw apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 clove of garlic, minced or put through a garlic press
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger root
- Squirt of Braggs Liquid Aminos
- Sea Salt – optional
- Red Pepper Flakes – optional – make as mild or wild as you like
Pour above mixture over a pound or two of fresh kale leaves which have been washed and stem cut out. I cut along the inside of the stem on both sides to remove the woody stem. If it is tender, you might wish to leave it intact and eat it.
Once the mixture is evenly coated, put the kale in your food dehydrator and dry until crisp. If you do not have a food dehydrator you can bake this in your oven until it is dry and crisp but you will lose many of the nutrients which are heat sensitive. Set the oven on the lowest setting possible. Edges will most likely turn brown. The time needed to dehydrate will differ with each brand of food dehydrator and/or temperature of your oven.
Variation: Use your favorite Italian Dressing
Variation: Use same dressing as above, omit sesame oil and add 1 – 2 teaspoons of curry powder
Variation: Use just olive oil and sea salt
Variation: Brush with olive oil and then sprinkle with nutritional yeast and salt
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So just what is kale good for? It would be easier to list what Kale isn’t good for: illness and disease.
A nutrient dense food, with alkalizing benefits, it’s got the building blocks for building better bones, has been touted as having anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is high in minerals, low in calories, great for the circulatory system, will help your skin and cartilage aiding in flexibility and can help you to detox and build at the same time.
It gets even better. Kale is great for your brain, containing plant based Omega 3’s (alpha-linolenic acid) which has been linked to lowering the risk of depression. Your brain has specialized fats called sphingolipids that create the structure of our brain cells. Guess what? Kale has an abundance of the co-factors needed in its nutritional profile to help with this as well.
Need protein? No problem; kale has that too, along with iron, folate and B6 which are all needed to make serotonin and dopamine.
The bigger question then becomes, “What on earth do I do with it?” Just about anything you want. Saute’ it, dehydrate it, add it to soups, stews, salads, and even scrambled eggs. Recipes ideas to follow.
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I was recently asked to submit a newsletter article in conjunction with a seminar I had attended. That article has been recreated below because it applies to all of us, in all aspects of our lives. Each point could be an article in itself. For now, ten quick reminders for living, loving, and leaving a legacy worthy of emulating.
- Take one small step. Using your own style, mindful of your strengths, honest about your weaknesses, move forward. One small consistent step has the potential to change your world.
- Seek to understand before being understood.
- Listen more, talk less.
- Be available.
- Follow up and follow through.
- Be genuine.
- Learn to fail. If a lesson was learned, there was no failure.
- We can’t always have it all. Determine priorities, make sacrifices when necessary, take a risk when warranted.
- Give yourself and others the opportunity to laugh; it’s aerobic exercise for the soul and great for your health.
- Choice is empowering. It isn’t my objective to convince others that my way is the right way. It is my privilege to be ready always, in season and out of season, to gently and respectfully share the hope that I have.
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Pasteurization? It’s good for us, right?
Here’s what pasteurization really does whether you’re talking about dairy, vinegars, eggs, kombucha or many other raw fermented foods :
- Diminishes all nutrients which are heat sensitive
- It does not destroy all harmful micro organisms
- It does destroy beneficial bacteria’s (probiotics)
- Destroys the active enzymes
- Denatures fragile milk proteins
- It denatures the food changing it from a live healthy food to a dead food
It seems odd that something so simple could actually be affecting your bone density and overall health. Consider just the vinegar for a moment. Distilled vinegar leaves an acid residue whereas the raw vinegar leaves an alkaline residue. Your body will try to maintain a certain pH and if you are too acidic, it will leach alkalizing minerals from your bones to achieve a pH balance. Your goal is to consume 80% alkalizing foods and just 20% acid forming foods on a daily basis.
To give yourself every advantage for building better bones and better over-all health a couple of options include:
If you are going to consume dairy products, purchase raw products made from organic, grass fed cows. Grass fed is desired over silage fed cows, providing a much higher content of essential fatty acids which also aids in building muscle mass, losing fat, stimulating your immune system and may help to fight against illness and disease. In many states it is illegal to sell raw milk , therefore requiring you to purchase cow shares making you part owner of a cow.
*Switch to Almond Milk. It’s much higher in calcium than cow’s milk and it’s alkalizing rather than acidifying.
* In many recipes where milk is called for, all you really need is something wet. Consider using water or almond milk.
*Purchase Raw Apple Cider Vinegar as opposed to distilled vinegars. Again, you are choosing an alkalizing food.
*Make your own kombucha. It’s easy, tasty, economical and great for your health.
