COMING IN OCTOBER on Thursdays, a six-week web-based workshop designed to allow parents to help their children reach their potential. Topics to include:
Tag: health
“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself.
The challenge is to silence the mind.”
-Caroline Myss
Bone-based broths have a long history as a beneficial food for people recuperating from illness, child-birth or surgery. They are nutrient-dense, easy to digest, rich in flavor and easy for the body to assimilate. Bones used to make stocks are filled with minerals that many of us don’t get enough of, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and others.
Also, bones contain cartilage, collagen and marrow — substances found in no other foods. Collagen is the source of bone broth’s immune-boosting properties.
BENEFITS OF BONE BROTH:
- Heals leaky gut/improves digestion
- Can aid in healing IBS, crohn’s, ulcerative colitis and acid reflux
- Fights infections such as colds and flu
- Heals food intolerances and allergies
- Improves joint health (arthritis)
- Gelatin promotes probiotic balance and growth
- Reduces cellulite
- Boosts the immune system
- Reduces inflammation in the respiratory system
- Detoxifies cells, gut and liver
Gelatin in bone broths contains amino acids arginine, glycine, glutamine and proline. These amino acids also contribute to stock’s healing properties.
Arginine
- Necessary for immune system function and wound healing
- Needed for the production and release of growth hormone
- Helps regenerate damaged liver cells
- Needed for the production of sperm
Glycine
- Prevents breakdown of protein tissue like muscle
- Used to make bile salts and glutathione
- Helps detoxify the body of chemicals and acts as antioxidant
- Is a neurotransmitter that improves sleep and improves memory and performance
- Anti-inflammatory
Proline
- Helps regenerate cartilage and heal joints
- Reduces cellulite and makes skin more supple
- Helps repair leaky gut
- Anti-inflammatory
Glutamine
- Protects gut lining
- Metabolic fuel for cells in small intestine
- Improves metabolism and muscle-building
BONE BROTH RECIPE
Ingredients:
4 quarts of filtered water
1 whole organic/free range chicken (remember you can use any type of protein)
1 garlic clove (more/less to taste)
2 Tbsp organic apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
1 Tsp unrefined sea salt (more/less to taste )
1 bay leaf
1 small onion
Fresh ginger (peeled)
Fresh turmeric (teaspoon dry powder can be replaced for fresh)
3 stalks organic celery
Preparation:
- Bake the chicken on 325 for 2 hours.
- Once the chicken has cooled off, remove the meat and use as you like.
- Place the left over bones and water into a crock pot and set the heat to HIGH.
- Bring the stock to a boil, then reduce the heat setting to the LOWEST setting.
- Add apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion, turmeric, ginger, bay leaf and celery.
- Allow the stock to cook for a minimum of 12 hours. A low and slow cook time is necessary to fully extract the nutrients in and around bone.
- Turn off the crock pot and allow the stock to cool.
- Strain the stock through a fine mesh metal strainer and discard bones.
- If you want to make chicken vegetable soup add your favorite vegetables (for added nutrient value). Continue cooking until vegetables are the consistency you like.
- Place the cooled stock into covered glass containers for storage in the fridge or freezer.
- You can also freeze the bone broth in ice-cube trays. Use the cubes anytime you want to add extra nutrients/flavor to a dish you are making.
TIPS:
- Only use animal products that you know are organic, pasture-fed and free of antibiotics and hormones (bones can be purchased at U.S. Wellness Meats).
- If you’re making beef broth or lamb broth, you should brown the meat before putting it into a stock pot.
- Add a bit of apple cider vinegar to your pot to help draw the minerals from the bones.
- When re-heating bone broth, bring it to a boil to kill any bacteria.
- The combination of animal products and vegetables seemed to have synergistic effects, working together to be more beneficial than either alone.
- I have found in my practice that a very small number of clients may not respond well to bone broth at first. When adding something new (whether it is a supplement, homeopathic remedy, food, or even a new personal care product) it is always a good idea to be observant for any changes. Every product, no matter how great, organic, natural, or wonderful it is reported to be for others, is not necessarily a perfect fit for everyone! It is wise to be observant when adding anything new. If you see any behavior changes (lethargy, hyperactivity for example) or any physical symptoms (cold symptoms, stomach ache, etc.) perhaps bone broth is not a good fit for your child. Muscle testing (also known as applied kinesiology (AK)) is a good way to test for benefit and tolerance. You can learn AK yourself, and many natural health practitioners incorporate it into their practices. I incorporate AK into my client work, testing foods, supplements, remedies, and a tool to help to refine the most optimal healing strategy for each individual. If you are uncertain or see/experience symptoms when you add bone broth, you could use applied kinesiology or work with a practitioner who does to test if bone broth is best for you or your child at this time.
Sources:
University of Nebraska Medical Center. “Chicken Soup for a Cold” http://www.unmc.edu/publicrelations/chickensoup_newsrelease.htm (accessed 21 October 2011).
Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They travel in your bloodstream to tissues or organs. They affect just about everything in your body such as:
- Growth and development
- Metabolism – how your body gets energy from the foods you eat
- Reproduction/Sexual function
- Mood
Here are steps you can take to balance your hormones naturally:
1. Avoid High Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fats
Avoid vegetable oil, peanut oil, canola oil, soybean oil, margarine, shortening, or other chemically altered fats. Instead eat: coconut oil, real butter, ghee, olive oil (low temperature only or use as salad dressing) and a fish that is high in Omega-3 at least once a week.
2. Limit the Caffeine or Eliminate it from Your Diet Entirely
Cut down on the caffeine, if you can. Replace your caffeinated drink with organic herbal teas. Numi Organic’s Emperor’s Pu-Erh tea has a full-bodied taste like coffee and is delicious with cream. Caution: Pu-Erh tea contains caffeine, although not as much as other teas. However, it is full-bodied like coffee, so can be helpful when trying to break the coffee habit. Pu-erh also contains antioxidants and other substances known to protect the heart. Organic teas such as peppermint, ginger and licorice are free of caffeine and very satisfying as well.
3. Avoid Toxins
Toxins are pretty much everywhere in today’s world, but there is a lot we can do in our everyday lives to make good choices. Choose your household cleaners and personal products with care. Hormone disrupting chemicals are found in pesticides, plastics, household chemicals, and mattresses. Birth control pills also contribute greatly to hormone imbalance in women. Make wise choices to take care of your body.
Cook in glass or enamel coated cast iron pans (avoid Teflon). As much as possible, store foods in glassware, and minimize the use of plastics. Choose organic produce and meat whenever possible. Use clean, non-toxic household cleaners, or even consider making your own (watch for a post on this topic in the near future!). Consider buying a mattress cover to keep from breathing the chemicals emitted from your mattress as this is a much less expensive option than buying an organic mattress. Another option is to buy a sleep number mattress as they are filled with air instead of chemicals.
4. Sleep
If you aren’t getting enough sleep, your hormones will not be balanced. Sleeping eight hours per night can improve hormones and is even linked to longer life, less chance of disease, and weight loss.
5. Supplement Wisely
Ideally, our diet would be balanced enough to keep our hormones at optimal levels. However, if your hormones are not in balance (with the help of a healthcare professional) you can consider trying:
- Maca– A tuber in the radish family that is said to boost hormone production and libido. Many women notice less PMS, increased fertility, and improved skin. Men often notice increased sperm production, libido, and better sleep when taking Maca. Maca is also high in minerals and essential fatty acids, making it great for hormones.
- Magnesium– Magnesium supports hundreds of reactions in the body and often contributes to better sleep (good for hormone balance).
- Vitamin D– A pre-hormone is supportive of hormone function. It is best obtained from the sun. But if that is not possible, consider a D3 supplement or Fermented Cod Liver Oil. It is also possible now to procure UVB-based Vitamin D-enhancing light systems. If you have an interest in supplementing with Vitamin D, first take the time to get your blood tested to find out your current level. Taking too much Vitamin D can be toxic. There is research by the Autoimmunity Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization, indicating that excess vitamin D may actually have an immunosuppressive effect and can possibly interfere with healthy immune function and recovery.
- Fermented Cod Liver Oil– Provides many of the necessary building blocks for hormone production including Vitamins A, D, and K. It also is a great source of Omega-3s and beneficial fats.
6. Consider Homeopathy
When toxins are removed and organs and glands are supported, the body can often rebalance its hormones effectively. Sequential homeopathy provides an effective and simple way to gently detoxify the energetic residue and toxic effects of birth control pills and other toxic exposures that contribute to hormone imbalance. Sarcodes, or remedies made from healthy glandular or tissue extract, can also be helpful to rebalance hormones and bring them their optimal vibration.
7. Exercise Lightly
If you have hormone imbalance, intense extended exercise can actually make the problem worse in the short-term. Try to walk for at least a half hour a day or do another light form of exercise like yoga or Pilates. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times a week.
8. Eat Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil is extremely beneficial for hormone health. It provides the necessary building blocks for hormone production, can assist weight loss, reduce inflammation, and even has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Try to consume 1/4 cup of coconut oil a day.
9. Maintain a Healthy Diet
Incorporate more fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, plus raw nuts and seeds (soaked and sprouted whenever possible) into your diet. Foods such as processed carbohydrates, fried foods, soft drinks, enriched flour, processed vegetable oil and soy products may alter hormone balance. Avoid non-organic dairy products which may contain harmful bovine growth hormones, steroids and antibiotics.
10. Take Care of Your Soul
Remember to make time for yourself at least once a day. Find small ways to incorporate rest and relaxation throughout the day. Be present. Breathe. Smile and laugh. Consider learning some form of yoga or meditation. Trauma and trapped emotions can contribute to any physical symptom pattern in the body, and hormone imbalance is no exception. Symptoms are only a message from the body. When we understand the message, the symptoms can go. Energy healing sessions can bring healing to the root cause, allowing for trauma (and symptom) release.
Please stay tuned for future posts where I will discuss natural ways to support your adrenal gland (your ability to deal with stress), thyroid gland (your metabolism), and pancreas (blood sugar/maintain healthy insulin levels).
Blessings,
Jenice
Introduction:
Did you try eating a gluten-free diet without seeing significant improvement in your health? Yesterday, in my post, I spoke about one of the possible reasons for this. Removing corn from your diet is important in order to truly be “gluten-free.” Today, I want to explain another reason some people don’t see improvement in their persistent health problems simply by eliminating gluten from their diet… dairy. Removing dairy from your diet is another important step in order to truly determine if a gluten-free diet is key for your healing.
Researchers have identified that dairy proteins can affect as much as 50% of those with gluten problems. A quote from a research study is listed below:
“Patients with celiac disease (CD) on a gluten-free diet may still have gastrointestinal symptoms. On clinical grounds cow’s milk (CM) protein sensitivity may be suspected…A mucosal inflammatory response similar to that elicited by gluten was produced by CM protein in about 50% of the patients with celiac disease. Casein, in particular, seems to be involved in this reaction.”
Source: Clin Exp Immunol. 2007 Mar;147(3):449-55.
Reasons Why Dairy Causes an Inflammatory Reaction:
- Processing of dairy alters the casein protein creating a molecule that resembles gluten, thus creating an inflammatory response.
- Cows eat large quantities of GMO corn and grain based foods. It is likely that these grain based proteins (including gluten) make their way into the milk, thus creating an inflammatory reaction.
- Gluten can cause intestinal permeability. When this happens, people often times become allergic to the foods that they consume most often. Dairy is often a major staple used by those on a gluten-free diet and therefore, many develop an allergic response to dairy.
- Those with gluten induced intestinal damage tend to have a hard time breaking down the sugars and proteins in dairy. This can cause tremendous GI distress, gas, distention, bloating, and pain. The undigested dairy materials can rot in the gut. This can also lead to disruption in the healthy bacterial counts of the gut.
Should You Eat Dairy Products on a Gluten Free Diet?
I would encourage a dairy free diet for at least 6 months when initially going gluten-free. This will allow time for your digestive system to heal.
Guidelines to Follow if You are Going to Include Dairy in Your Gluten Free Diet:
- Buy grass-fed dairy only.
- Be sure your dairy comes from animals who are antibiotics and hormone free.
- Buy dairy in the raw form. If you want to pasteurize it, heat it up yourself on your stove at home.
Closing:
Remember, just because your doctor’s test did not show you have a sensitivity to gluten, there’s no guarantee that gluten is not slowing down your healing. Health is a choice we make every moment – what we choose to put in and around us, conversations we choose to listen to, things we choose to eat and drink – all impact the rate at which we heal. You have the power to choose the rate of your healing by the simple choices you make every day.
Through Applied Kinesiology, I can determine the foods most optimal for your healing – what to limit and what to avoid completely.
Source: Gluten Free Society
Many times, my clients will tell me that a gluten-free diet did not improve their health in any noticeable way. However, when I ask them a few follow-up questions, I often discover what may be the reason they did not see their negative symptoms improve. One of the biggest reasons for this is that people who go on a gluten-free diet tend to begin eating large amounts of corn.
Corn is in virtually all of the pre-packaged gluten-free foods (they contain corn gluten or corn byproducts). In addition, corn is used in the production of sweeteners, shampoos, soaps, plastics, fuels, etc. On top of that, all of our domesticated farm animals are fed staple diets of genetically modified corn. The only way to avoid eating corn in your beef is to buy grass-fed. It is easy to see why the typical American is eating an over-abundance of corn in their diet.
Since 1978, there have been a number of studies investigating whether or not corn gluten is a problem for patients with gluten sensitivity. There are multiple studies showing that corn has a negative effect on patients with celiac disease. Here is a quote from a recent study:
“Maize is used as an alternative to wheat to elaborate foodstuffs for celiac patients in a gluten-free diet. However, some maize prolamins (zeins) contain amino acid sequences that resemble the wheat gluten immunodominant peptides… “
At this point there is ample evidence to consider corn gluten as a major contributor to gluten related illnesses. Regardless of gluten content, a diet high in corn is not conducive to good healing. A TRUE gluten-free diet eliminates all forms of gluten – including corn gluten.
If you even remotely suspect that you may be sensitive to gluten, I urge you to give the gluten-free diet a try (including the elimination of corn). Sadly, statistics show that those with gluten sensitivity will go on to develop 7 + autoimmune diseases in their lifetime.
In my next post, I will discuss another hidden source of gluten for those attempting to follow a gluten-free diet. Stay tuned.
Blessings,
Jenice
Source: Gluten Free Society
Flatbread is delicious and easy to make. It is perfect for breakfast bread, a quick snack/side or to make a flatbread pizza. There are many variations on how to make a gluten-free flatbread. My recipe is gluten, soy, yeast, egg, and dairy free. Please click on the pictures in this post for links to other flatbread recipes.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup quinoa or millet
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup honey (Or another sweetener of your choice. Personally, I like it fine without the sweetener.)
- 1 Tsp Himalayan Sea Salt
Directions
- Soak 1½ cup quinoa or millet overnight.
- The next day, rinse and drain well.
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Grease the sides of a 9×13 rectangular glass casserole dish with some coconut oil.
- Add 2 Tbsp coconut oil to the glass casserole dish and place in the heated oven.
- Add drained quinoa or millet, 1¾ cup water, 1 tsp salt, and ¼ cup honey in a blender.
- Turn the blender on high and mix until smooth.
- Once the coconut oil is melted in the glass dish, remove from the oven.
- Whisk the blended ingredients into the hot coconut oil until the mixture is blended well.
- Place back into the hot oven and cook for 22-25 minutes.
- If you like a crisper flatbread broil it on high the last few minutes of cooking.
There are endless toppings you can put on flatbread. How about…
- Pesto sauce
- Drizzled avocado oil and sea salt
- Hummus
- Roasted garlic
- Beef, chicken, etc.
- Your favorite veggies
- Be creative!
Enjoy!
Jenna
MIASMS – PART ONE
Introduction
The concept and theory of miasms originated in the field of homeopathy almost 200 years ago. German physician Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, introduced the term miasm in his book, The Chronic Diseases, published in 1828. His miasm theory was the result of 12 years of painstaking work on the most difficult chronic cases in his clinical practice, in addition to his own historical research into the diseases of man.
As are most new and ground-breaking ideas, the introduction of his miasm theory was met with much skepticism. However, over the years the theory has been studied and embraced by healers around the world.
What is a miasm?
- A miasm is an inherited weakness or an underlying predisposition to chronic illness. In other words, it is a generational susceptibility to an ongoing pattern of disease.
- Miasms are specific energy frequencies that affect the entire person – they affect body systems, emotions, chakras, cells and cell surface receptors.
- A miasm can be thought of as a vibrational field or frequency that underlies – or gives energy to — disease patterns in a person’s life.
- These underlying energy frequencies perpetuate a pattern of illness (which could be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual) even after all known measures have been taken to correct the individual’s health issues.
Who has miasms?
Miasms apply to everyone – we all carry miasms in a dormant or latent state. They can be activated or awakened in a person’s life through various circumstances such as:
- stress
- physical or emotional trauma
- acute illness
How do people acquire miasms in the first place?
Hahnemann believed that miasms were driven into the DNA (or genetically imprinted) as a result of many of the suppressive therapies commonly used in his day. Hahnemann explained that suppressive therapies drive the disease deeper into the system, allowing for a more chronic condition to be created and exacerbated. Examples of suppressive therapies used today are:
- Prescription drugs (antivirals, etc.)
- Antibiotics
- Steroid creams/shots
To understand this better lets look at a concrete example. Steroid creams are commonly used today to treat skin eruptions such as eczema, poison ivy, or other forms of allergic skin reactions or rashes. However, the nature of steroids is simply to short-circuit the immune response. The root issue – whatever is causing the rash (such as a virus, an allergen, or bacteria for example) – is not eliminated from the body or cured by the steroid. Instead, the body’s reaction to it is suppressed, or turned off.
A healthy body will try to expel a virus through the skin – the skin is a direct exit route on the surface of the body. But when steroids are used, the cause of the skin issue is suppressed and driven deeper into the system. The skin is our largest detoxification organ and will help bear the load of the liver and kidneys when they are over-burdened. However, if a virus for example, is attempting to exit through the skin, what do you think will happen when its exit path is shut down? If the cause (the virus for example) is unable to move upward through the skin, it will have to find a new place to rest in the body.
You see, the skin would be the best way out of the body, but if its pathway is blocked, the virus has to go somewhere else. The virus has no other choice but to go deeper into the system.
One common pattern seen when skin eruptions are suppressed over time is lung congestion. In medical literature, there is a link seen between suppressed eczema and lung problems such as croup, asthma symptoms, and so forth. The point here is that when disease is suppressed, deeper issues are created, and miasms can be activated or created as well.
How many miasms are there?
There are five primary miasms and several secondary miasms. The five primary miasms are:
- Psoric
- Sycotic
- Syphilitic
- Tubercular
- Cancer
Miasms explained – Part 2
In part two of this post, I will give an overview of what the five primary miasms are, their symptoms, and how treating them can improve your health and get to the root cause of chronic disease.
Blessings!
Jenice
What Are Nightshades?
The nightshades are members of family of plants called Solanaceae. For example, tomatoes, potatoes (not sweet potatoes or yams), eggplant and peppers—this means all peppers including chili peppers, Habanero, cayenne pepper and paprika (not peppercorns). Other nightshades include goji berries, ashwagandha, Cape gooseberries (not normal gooseberries), ground cherries and garden huckleberries.
Who May be Especially Sensitive to Nightshades?
- People who suffer from inflammation and joint pain
- People sensitive to weather changes
- People with muscle pain and tightness and morning stiffness
- People with poor healing, arthritis, insomnia and gall bladder problems
- People with heart burn or GERD
Why Are Some People Sensitive to Nightshades?
- Because overconsumption of calcitriol from nightshade foods can circumvent the kidney’s control and over time lead to calcium deposits in the soft tissues such as the tendons, ligaments, cartilage, cardiovascular tissues, kidneys and skin.
- Because of Solanine, a potent poison found in species of the nightshade family (especially potatoes and eggplant). Solanine is poisonous because it inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine, resulting in increased level and duration of action of this neurotransmitter. What does this mean? It causes prolonged muscle contractions. This is why people who are sensitive to nightshades or eat a lot of them often feel stiff when they wake up in the morning or sit for extended periods. Solanine affects the gene expression of human intestinal cell linings, inhibits proteolytic enzyme activity, and destroys human liver cells.
- Nightshades contain nicotine, which is why they can be addictive. A large body of research shows that nicotine consumption inhibits proper healing.
Are Nightshades Causing Your Medical Problems?
- Try removing all nightshades from your diet for at least six weeks. Many people notice an improvement in their pain; sometimes it goes away completely.
- If you avoid nightshades for six weeks, yet your pain has not decreased, do a “nightshade party day”: salsa and eggs for breakfast, tomato and eggplant for lunch, potatoes for dinner. Eat as much as you can in one day and then watch for symptoms over the next two days. Often there is a delayed onset reaction.
Bottom Line Recommendation:
- Even if you are one of those lucky people who don’t seem to have trouble with nightshades, it’s a good idea not to overdo.
- Avoid having nightshades with every meal. Vary your diet. Sweet potatoes, yams and parsnips are good substitutes for potatoes. You can steam cauliflower and mash it with butter and cream. As a substitute for chili pepper, use wasabi, horseradish, mustard powder, ginger, or freshly ground peppercorns. There’s no good substitute for tomatoes, so learn to use them sparingly.
- Cooking reduces the solanine levels in potatoes somewhat, and may even help reduce other toxins. So if you are eating nightshade foods, cook them in butter or poultry fat—this is a synergistic combination because these fats provide vitamin K2. And you’ll end up eating less of the nightshade foods because when you cook in good fats, you are more quickly satisfied and end up eating less.
- For those who are sensitive to nightshades, the best strategy is to avoid them completely for a long time, until you can completely heal.
My Thoughts:
I know, for my clients, it is especially hard for them to give up tomato sauce. Here is a link to a recipe for “tomato-less” tomato sauce. Also, there is a company that sells tomato-less tomato sauce. Their product is called Nomato.
Blessings!
Jenice
Source and Full Article: Weston A. Price Foundation
Toxicity from daily living is happening for all of us. Understanding how we can support our body in decreasing these toxins is crucial for our health.
Each child born is now entering life with hundreds of toxins, chemicals, and radiation in their systems. Then, they are bombarded by:
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Chemicals added to foods
- GMO foods that have the ability to change our genetics
- Vaccines
- Toxins, drugs, and metals found in our water and air
These toxins can cause further problems by:
- Increasing inflammation
- Creating an ideal environment for pathogens to multiply
- Decreasing our body’s ability to defend itself
- Decreasing our cellular health
Toxins contribute to the following health problems:
- Inflammation
- Detox pathway breakdown
- Gall bladder and liver issues
- Diabetes
- Hormonal problems
- Nervous system problems
- Infections
- Colon problems
How to decrease our toxic load:
- Eat organically and avoid GMO foods
- Eliminate bad habits, like smoking and eating processed foods
- Take supplements
- Exercise
- Use non-toxic household products
Byron White Formulas are often helpful for people who need to detox. They have several formulas to help with this effort. In my practice, I have seen Byron White formulas decrease symptoms, lower the toxic burden, support the body in the healing process (recovery and regeneration), and help the body to better cope with drug toxicity from prescription medications.
I am trained in how to use these formulas to promote better health. Please contact me if you are interested in learning more.
Blessings,
Jenice
Source: Byron White Formulas Blog