The Western diet has a love affair with "fast food". There are sugar laden breakfast cereals, snack cakes, fruit juices, and soft drinks. Our frozen, "already prepared" dinners and appetizers are high in sodium. Then add into that our "fast food" restaurants with foods high in fat and cholesterol, including but not limited to fried hamburgers, French fries, fried chicken, fried pies and the list goes on. These are a few of the food choices made every day by millions of people in our society. Study after study has shown us that a diet of these foods will adversely affect our health. Eating too much sugar can result in diabetes...too much sodium can result in high blood pressure....too much fat can result in clogged arteries leading to coronary and heart disease. All these things combined can lead to obesity which then begins to affect our bones, joints, cartilage and nervous system. Before long, you have a body with chronic disease(s) and riddled with inflammation!
These are our obvious "food enemies", but what about the unobvious? What other "foods" in our common Western diet, could result in chronic disease? According to Andrew Kinbrall AAL, the Head of Food Safety in Washington, D.C., All our food sources are questionable. Our food supply is being "genetically polluted" from the very first link in the food chain, the SEED! Scientists are just now beginning to study and question the affects of DNA altered foods on humans. In our quest to produce bigger and better foods, we may have opened ourselves up to a biotechnological nightmare.
Professor Terje Traavie at the institute of Gene Ecology in Norway is researching what effects genetically modified foods may have o organisms. His study of mice injected with growth hormones has shown that the foreign DNA material is found in their internal organs and then gone on to invade their DNA. His concern s that there is no control groups for these "genetically modified" foods which are on our tables in our homes and our restaurants being eaten by millions. There are no labels to advise us as a society what we are eating; it is to the benefit of these "genetically modified" food companies to keep the consumer ignorant.
Many scientists believe that many chronic illnesses and diseases and the weakening of the immune system may be a result of these biotechnological altered foods. This could account for innumerable cancers, the unexplained auto-immune diseases such as CFS, Fibromyalgia, Epstein-Barr Syndrome to name a few, as well as chronic headaches, migraines, even arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases. No one knows for sure what the long term effects will be on the human body. No one knows for what the long term effects will be on our future generations.
The facts known and documented are only on the effects of the animals being injected with this DNA altering technology. Some cows and pigs injected with growth hormones have suffered from unspeakable nervous system side effects, unable to walk or even stand. Some are so grossly large that they suffer respiratory distress and skeletal breakdown. DNA altered fish have produced offspring with birth defects and chickens that have been altered tot extinguish the brooking instinct have exhibited aggressive behavior. Even our wildlife is being put at risk with genetic altered grains and the escape of genetic altered fish into our streams and rivers. This genetic revolution has not been observed in a real eco system with real organisms and there could be an ecological catastrophe or alarming disease.
Everyone must take responsibility for their own health and know as much as they can about what they put into their bodies. We cannot depend on the purity of our food sources off the shelf or plate anymore. That healthy looking salad filled with fruits and/or vegetables, nuts, seeds, baked chicken strips and drizzled with olive oil, just may be a ticking time bomb when it comes to our bodies and "chronic disease"!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Creating Your Healthy Life
Today's topic is "Inflammation" in the body!
What causes inflammation and how does it affect us? One of the causes of inflammation in the body is an overgrowth of yeast or "candida". Yeast can wreak havoc on our bodies and manifest in many forms of disease and illness; heart disease, cancer, memory loss, obesity, fibromyalgia and other chronic, auto-immune and degenerative diseases.
These illness do not manifest overnight, they are the result of chronic inflammation over the course of years.
Candida albicans is a yeast that occurs naturally in the body where it has a beneficial action in the gut when kept under control. When it becomes out of control, and the balance is disturbed, the yeast begins causing symptoms ranging from digestive upsets, lethargy, allergy reactions, skin complaints through infections of the mouth and vaginal tract. The toxins released by this overgrowth affect the whole body; muscle pain, stiffness, weakness, headaches, blurry vision, intense fatigue, acne, hives, athletes foot, joint pains, depression, inability to concentrate, intestinal upsets and post nasal drip.
This imbalance may occur because of the following:
Weakened or overworked adrenal glands
Unhealthy lifestyle
Lowered Immunity
Prolonged courses of antibiotics
Birth control pills
Antibiotic & hormonal residues in meat
Chlorine & fluorine in water
Additives & preservatives in food
Diet high in white sugar & flour
Unknown food sensitivities & allergies
Environmental Toxins
Once we realize and understand that yeast may be playing a role in our health, we can take the steps necessary to stop the growth and regain balance. Our body cannot heal if it is constantly being re-inflammed .
If you have more than five of the chronic inflammation symptoms, here are some things that you can do.
1) Detoxify
2) Avoid Carbohydrates
3) Eat more fruits & vegetables
4) Eat GOOD fats
5) Decongest the lymphatic system - BE ACTIVE
6) Support the adrenals
7) Use Natural Anti-Inflammatories
If you need more information or have questions, please feel free to email me!
Have a FABULOUS week!
Blessings! PAM
What causes inflammation and how does it affect us? One of the causes of inflammation in the body is an overgrowth of yeast or "candida". Yeast can wreak havoc on our bodies and manifest in many forms of disease and illness; heart disease, cancer, memory loss, obesity, fibromyalgia and other chronic, auto-immune and degenerative diseases.
These illness do not manifest overnight, they are the result of chronic inflammation over the course of years.
Candida albicans is a yeast that occurs naturally in the body where it has a beneficial action in the gut when kept under control. When it becomes out of control, and the balance is disturbed, the yeast begins causing symptoms ranging from digestive upsets, lethargy, allergy reactions, skin complaints through infections of the mouth and vaginal tract. The toxins released by this overgrowth affect the whole body; muscle pain, stiffness, weakness, headaches, blurry vision, intense fatigue, acne, hives, athletes foot, joint pains, depression, inability to concentrate, intestinal upsets and post nasal drip.
This imbalance may occur because of the following:
Weakened or overworked adrenal glands
Unhealthy lifestyle
Lowered Immunity
Prolonged courses of antibiotics
Birth control pills
Antibiotic & hormonal residues in meat
Chlorine & fluorine in water
Additives & preservatives in food
Diet high in white sugar & flour
Unknown food sensitivities & allergies
Environmental Toxins
Once we realize and understand that yeast may be playing a role in our health, we can take the steps necessary to stop the growth and regain balance. Our body cannot heal if it is constantly being re-inflammed .
If you have more than five of the chronic inflammation symptoms, here are some things that you can do.
1) Detoxify
2) Avoid Carbohydrates
3) Eat more fruits & vegetables
4) Eat GOOD fats
5) Decongest the lymphatic system - BE ACTIVE
6) Support the adrenals
7) Use Natural Anti-Inflammatories
If you need more information or have questions, please feel free to email me!
Have a FABULOUS week!
Blessings! PAM
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Creating Your Healthy Life
FIBROMYALGIA-What you should know
Muscle aches, spasms, fatigue, weakness in the arms and legs, inability to concentrate (brain fog), sleep disturbance and depression. These are some of the common complaints related to Fibromyalgia. This chronic illness which affects approximately four percent of the population and nine times more women than men has no known cure. Anti-Seizure drugs, pain relievers, antidepressants and muscle relaxants are some of the common prescribed medications to treat the symptoms.
My personal experience with Fibromyalgia brought me to the realization that this chronic illness is not just “one” illness but a combination of the body’s organs and systems that are unable to function properly resulting in the aforementioned symptoms and complaints. Not treating the underlying cause of the illness only results in a vicious cycle of drugs and their side effects.
I have listed ten of the issues that I addressed and should be addressed if you suffer from this illness.
1. STRESS! Chronic stress plays a major role in our health, robbing our bodies of nutrients and required sleep which in turn reduces our resistance to disease and chronic inflammation, i.e., fibromyalgia.
2. Environmental Toxins is next on my list. Not many conventional doctors address this issue because there are just too many to test for. If you have ever come in contact with chemicals on the job, lived on a farm, eaten foods high in preservatives or additives, i.e., MSG, used household chemicals to clean or you use personal care products that are high in chemicals, you probably have been exposed to environmental toxins.
3. Diet is another issue that is sometimes overlooked. Are you a junk food junkie? Do you snack, eat out a lot, eat prepackaged meals! Your diet could be a contributing factor to your illness. Refined carbohydrates and processed fats are adding fuel to an already inflamed body. This inflammation aggravates arthritis, aches and pains, bowel disorders and contributes to heart disease, diabetes and memory loss. Avoid caffeine and NO soft drinks! Learn to live without the sugar and caffeine but remember to wean yourself off of caffeine by reducing the number of cups of coffee or glasses of tea or cans of soda.
4. Drugs, both over the counter and prescribed give the illusion of addressing health issues. They do not treat the underlying cause; they only treat the symptom(s) related to the underlying cause. The body was not designed to process these toxic substances and treats them as such. When a drug is absolutely a necessity, educate yourself to possible alternative methods that could be used. Never stop any medication without professional guidance.
5. Hydration is another often overlooked but a very important issue. You must learn to drink at least 8 large glasses of filtered water a day. Water is crucial to our bodily functions! If you do nothing else for yourself, do this. Pure water helps our bodies rid itself of toxins by flushing them out of our systems. It’s like a refreshing shower for your internal organs!
6. Get yourself on a sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night and get at least 8 hrs of rest and then get up at the same time every morning. The body likes a schedule, knowing when it can relax, refresh and heal itself. It also likes to know when it will be nourished and exercised. There are natural supplements that can help set the sleep clock in the brain. The bodies need for sleep is more important than you realize.
7. A sluggish thyroid may also contribute to fibromyalgia. It can cause weight gain, fatigue, depression and many other complaints. The thyroid can be supported with natural supplements.
8. Exhausted adrenals, this can rob us of sleep and energy due mainly in part to good ole stress. The adrenals help us to cope, give us energy, and regulate our mineral, fluid and blood sugar. Adrenals can also be supported with natural supplements.
9. With a poor diet and overload of toxins (including medications) the liver becomes compromised. When nutrients are deficient and there are too many toxins the liver does not function properly resulting in internal toxicity. Most people suffering with fibromyalgia have a stressed liver due to all the medications. The liver needs to be detoxified and at the same time supported with natural supplementation
10. Another issue that is not usually addressed by conventional doctors is Candida or yeast. When our immune system is suppressed, this friendly bacteria is decreased by the antibiotics we take directly or indirectly, by pesticides, chlorine and other toxins and fed by our craving for sweets and refined carbohydrates. When this happens there is a shift from the good yeast form to the fungal form. This yeast overgrowth can cause inflammation throughout the body. A yeast detoxification should be done to balance the condition.
These are some of the underlying conditions that could be contributing to your chronic illness. You should contact a qualified alternative practitioner or physician to create a personalized protocol for you. Every individual is unique in their health and in their illness.
Blessings!
PAM
Muscle aches, spasms, fatigue, weakness in the arms and legs, inability to concentrate (brain fog), sleep disturbance and depression. These are some of the common complaints related to Fibromyalgia. This chronic illness which affects approximately four percent of the population and nine times more women than men has no known cure. Anti-Seizure drugs, pain relievers, antidepressants and muscle relaxants are some of the common prescribed medications to treat the symptoms.
My personal experience with Fibromyalgia brought me to the realization that this chronic illness is not just “one” illness but a combination of the body’s organs and systems that are unable to function properly resulting in the aforementioned symptoms and complaints. Not treating the underlying cause of the illness only results in a vicious cycle of drugs and their side effects.
I have listed ten of the issues that I addressed and should be addressed if you suffer from this illness.
1. STRESS! Chronic stress plays a major role in our health, robbing our bodies of nutrients and required sleep which in turn reduces our resistance to disease and chronic inflammation, i.e., fibromyalgia.
2. Environmental Toxins is next on my list. Not many conventional doctors address this issue because there are just too many to test for. If you have ever come in contact with chemicals on the job, lived on a farm, eaten foods high in preservatives or additives, i.e., MSG, used household chemicals to clean or you use personal care products that are high in chemicals, you probably have been exposed to environmental toxins.
3. Diet is another issue that is sometimes overlooked. Are you a junk food junkie? Do you snack, eat out a lot, eat prepackaged meals! Your diet could be a contributing factor to your illness. Refined carbohydrates and processed fats are adding fuel to an already inflamed body. This inflammation aggravates arthritis, aches and pains, bowel disorders and contributes to heart disease, diabetes and memory loss. Avoid caffeine and NO soft drinks! Learn to live without the sugar and caffeine but remember to wean yourself off of caffeine by reducing the number of cups of coffee or glasses of tea or cans of soda.
4. Drugs, both over the counter and prescribed give the illusion of addressing health issues. They do not treat the underlying cause; they only treat the symptom(s) related to the underlying cause. The body was not designed to process these toxic substances and treats them as such. When a drug is absolutely a necessity, educate yourself to possible alternative methods that could be used. Never stop any medication without professional guidance.
5. Hydration is another often overlooked but a very important issue. You must learn to drink at least 8 large glasses of filtered water a day. Water is crucial to our bodily functions! If you do nothing else for yourself, do this. Pure water helps our bodies rid itself of toxins by flushing them out of our systems. It’s like a refreshing shower for your internal organs!
6. Get yourself on a sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night and get at least 8 hrs of rest and then get up at the same time every morning. The body likes a schedule, knowing when it can relax, refresh and heal itself. It also likes to know when it will be nourished and exercised. There are natural supplements that can help set the sleep clock in the brain. The bodies need for sleep is more important than you realize.
7. A sluggish thyroid may also contribute to fibromyalgia. It can cause weight gain, fatigue, depression and many other complaints. The thyroid can be supported with natural supplements.
8. Exhausted adrenals, this can rob us of sleep and energy due mainly in part to good ole stress. The adrenals help us to cope, give us energy, and regulate our mineral, fluid and blood sugar. Adrenals can also be supported with natural supplements.
9. With a poor diet and overload of toxins (including medications) the liver becomes compromised. When nutrients are deficient and there are too many toxins the liver does not function properly resulting in internal toxicity. Most people suffering with fibromyalgia have a stressed liver due to all the medications. The liver needs to be detoxified and at the same time supported with natural supplementation
10. Another issue that is not usually addressed by conventional doctors is Candida or yeast. When our immune system is suppressed, this friendly bacteria is decreased by the antibiotics we take directly or indirectly, by pesticides, chlorine and other toxins and fed by our craving for sweets and refined carbohydrates. When this happens there is a shift from the good yeast form to the fungal form. This yeast overgrowth can cause inflammation throughout the body. A yeast detoxification should be done to balance the condition.
These are some of the underlying conditions that could be contributing to your chronic illness. You should contact a qualified alternative practitioner or physician to create a personalized protocol for you. Every individual is unique in their health and in their illness.
Blessings!
PAM
Monday, September 29, 2008
Creating Your Healthy Life
Last week we discussed Hypertension so I thought it only fitting to go to the opposite end of the spectrum and discuss Hypotension or, "low blood pressure".
Low blood pressure causes an inadequate flow of blood to the heart, brain and other organs. The lack of blood flow throughout the body can slow down the body's metabolism causing a host of health related symptoms. Our bodies depend on blood flow for proper organ function and to assist with waste and toxin removal.
Constant low blood pressure can result in fatigue, lack of energy and headaches. Very low blood pressure can result in dizziness and loss of consciousness. There is usually no underlying cause but there may be contributory factors such as bleeding ulcer, heavy menstrual periods, inadequate diet or malfunction of the circulatory system or adrenal insufficiency.
There are some lifestyle modifications that can be effective: 1) Diet containing adequate levels of iron and protein 2) Adequate exercise 3) Increased fluid intake. Low blood pressure can also be treated alternatively with essential oils, herbs & herbal teas as well as vitamin and mineral supplementation.
Please email me with your questions/comments!
Have a FABULOUS week!!
Blessings! PAM
Low blood pressure causes an inadequate flow of blood to the heart, brain and other organs. The lack of blood flow throughout the body can slow down the body's metabolism causing a host of health related symptoms. Our bodies depend on blood flow for proper organ function and to assist with waste and toxin removal.
Constant low blood pressure can result in fatigue, lack of energy and headaches. Very low blood pressure can result in dizziness and loss of consciousness. There is usually no underlying cause but there may be contributory factors such as bleeding ulcer, heavy menstrual periods, inadequate diet or malfunction of the circulatory system or adrenal insufficiency.
There are some lifestyle modifications that can be effective: 1) Diet containing adequate levels of iron and protein 2) Adequate exercise 3) Increased fluid intake. Low blood pressure can also be treated alternatively with essential oils, herbs & herbal teas as well as vitamin and mineral supplementation.
Please email me with your questions/comments!
Have a FABULOUS week!!
Blessings! PAM
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