FYI-HEALTH TALK

 

PERIODONTAL DISEASE!

Teeth and Gums. It is about time I talked about this subject, since my father was a dentist. I aspired to follow in his footsteps, once upon a time – but it never happened.

The health of our TEETH and GUMS is often overlooked healthwise, as a way to protect us from a lot of dis-eases. Brushing alone is not always a sufficient way to keep your mouth free of disease – or other parts of your body. Yes, poor oral health can affect the whole body. 

Periodontal Disease: the terms associated with oral health (in the mouth), include Gingivitis – which is an inflammatory response that affects the gums;  and Periodontitis – the result of the lack of care of the gums and bones that support the teeth.

Many studies, and much research has been done involving oral health – teeth brushing and body health – to decide if there is a relationship between the two. Some of the Scientific results (per the Life Extension Magazine) concluded the following:

• Periodontal disease and certain obesity-related systemic illnesses, are related. Periodontal disease of the gums and bones, induces inflammatory cytokines and may contribute to obesity by elevating “C-reactive protein” which in turn causes fat cells to store more fat and burn less energy.
• Periodontal disease is suggested by the International Journal of Cancer, to be a risk factor for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. And, is an increased risk for the development of colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancer – with later studies showing it also to be a link to a “greater overall risk of cancer – even in those who have never smoked.”
• Periodontitis was shown to be related to the “risk of ischemic stroke and of mortality from all causes including cardiovascular-disease, with gingival inflammation also being associated with stroke risk. Studies also showed that periodontal disease among older people relates to the risk of diabetes mellitus or exacerbates existing diabetes. “Diabetics who control their blood sugar have a lower risk of periodontal disease than those who do not.”
• Respiratory Infection can be related to poor oral health in the way of pneumonia when “periodontal bacteria in the secretions of the mouth and pharynx are aspirated into the lungs.”

As well Scientists are investigating whether periodontal disease is related to Osteoporosis – which the answer to, is yes. Studies also show that periodontal infection increases the risk for pre-term delivery of low birth-weight babies, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis. Remember that ‘itis’ and ‘osis’ diseases are related to inflammation issues.

We had a Victory Garden when I was a child. My dad insisted on growing his own fruits and vegetable. Because of this we ate totally organic food. The garden was fertilized with pure unadulterated cow manure. No pesticides were ever used. Because of this, our family, had good oral health. I never had a cavity – only saw the ones in other people’s mouths when I helped my dad in his office.

These healthy foods , grown in our garden, as we never took supplements, were our source of fighting – so to speak – dental erosion. Further studies today – shown to be of the same help against antibacterial activity include: Green tea, Coenzyme Q10, Aloe Vera, Xylitol (a natural sweetener), Lactoferrin (an immune-boosting protein involved in the body’s responses to infection and injury), Hydrogen Peroxide (an antiseptic that can be used to fight plaque formation and to reduce gingivitis), Vitamin C, B vitamin Folic acid (added to some mouth washes) and Vitamin D.

Now you know how periodontal disease develops and how to deter it. 

In review: Periodontitis, and Gingivitis are two different types of periodontal disease. Gingivitis is inflammation of the soft tissue surrounding the tooth manifested as redness and swelling of the gums and bleeding on soft-touching or on probing. Gingivitis leads to Periodontitis  which occurs when pathogenic, gram-negative bacteria destroy the dental supportive structures of the teeth, leading to progressive destruction of periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone. The result is tooth loss. As noted above, both may trigger a range of illnesses throughout the body.

Not in my research, but always emphasized by my dad is that smoking, chewing tobacco, alcohol, soda pop, and yes, candy – especially the ones you suck, are killers of the health of teeth, and the looks of teeth. Gum was thought to help clean the teeth, but today that is a controversial subject. 

As well, we continually heard my dad’s, and one of my favorite sayings, which was: “AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH MORE THAN A POUND OF CURE!”  This means that a good diet and supplemental regiment can help promote good general body and oral health from the inside delivering defenses against dis-ease. We all know that ‘scientifically’ many  compound ingredients have been added to toothpaste to be applied topically, inside the mouth. These added ingredients are supposed to aid in warding off bacteria etc. Tooth paste along with rinses (mouth washes) are promoted, in the dental field, as aides to stop tooth decay and gum disease. (I, personally, avoid Fluoride toothpaste because of the adverse affects of fluoride on the teeth, and in the blood stream – a topic for another blog).

Tooth and Gum Health is an ambiguous subject. There can be so many factors involved when discussing it. Genetics can also play a part in how the teeth grow and look, etc. I can hear your questions in my mind. But for now, I have tried to help you understand the two basic issues, that are the culprits when it comes to poor oral health, and what you can do about it – if it applies to you. In the old days the teeth, because of mouth diseases, the teeth were extracted, and you ended up wearing what they called “False Teeth”. Today, you very seldom hear that terminology. What you do hear is “we can put in a bridge”, or “have you considered, implants, caps, braces, whitening,” etc.

Keep in mind that these alternatives – to be successful – still depend on good gum and bone support. The teeth will be beautiful and attractive, but will continually require care.

I prefer to stay with what God blessed us with – our original teeth, even though Dentistry has taken a turn in the world today, to be able to do great things in regards to teeth.

Again, many things can happen and do happen, along the path of life, that makes it necessary for artificial teeth, gum and mouth restoration.  What would we ever do without good people in the field of DENTISTRY?

Visit your Dentist at least 1-2 times a year. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today!

A FRONTLINE DEFENSE AGAINST SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION, ANYWHERE IN THE BODY, IS EXCELLENT ORAL HEALTH! 

I am not usually not an ‘off the wall’ person, but this morning as I was reading my scriptures I was at a loss of what to read. To solve this dilemma I closed my eyes and just let my bible fall open where it may. It fell open to the Bible Dictionary. I use dictionaries a lot. What I was meant to read  stuck out to me ‘like a sore thumb,’ (I call it inspiration); it  was listed in the dictionary as the ‘Fall of Adam.’ I have spent most of my life trying to figure out where I came from, how I all got here and what was in store for me now that I am here, and where I will be going when the time comes to leave this earth.

Quoting from the King James Version of the Bible (and with my own comments interspersed) – I feel this is the beginning of helping me to understand the whole ‘mankind’ process. It even fits in with what I believe today about the body healing itself – Natural Healing.

Fall of Adam. “The process by which mankind became mortal on this earth. The event is recorded in Gen. 2, 3, and 4. The fall od Adam is one of the most important occurrences in the history of man. Before the fall, Adam and Eve had physical bodies”(like we look today with only one difference – read on) “but no blood.”  “There was no sin, no death, and no children among any of the earthly creations.” (Common sense would be, because without blood Adam and Eve were not mortal beings). However, it goes on to say: “With the eating of the “forbidden fruit,” Adam and Eve became mortal, sin entered, blood formed in their bodies, and death became a part of life. Adam became the “first flesh” upon the earth, meaning that he and Eve were the first to become mortals. After Adam fell. the whole creation fell and became mortal. Adam’s fall brought both physical and spiritual death into the world upon all mankind.” You ask, what is ‘spiritual death’. Spiritual death, as I understand it, is the ceasing of man being able to communicate face to face with GOD – or any of the higher beings. This all makes sense to me, but is sometimes confusing to others. It goes on the explain….

“The fall was no surprise to the Lord. It was a necessary step in the progress of man, and provisions for a Savior had been made even before the fall had occurred. Jesus Christ came to atone for the fall of Adam and also for man’s individual sins.”

As I see it, in my opinion – the fall was a blessing. Think about it. Should Adam and Eve not be honored? Are they not the first parents, in the flesh, of the earth?

The next topic in the dictionary was ‘Family.’  Adam and Eve were a ‘family’ and, that is another whole topic in and of itself and probably one that should be discussed, especially with all the turmoil going on in the world today. For me, when I read and hear about the devastation happening all over the world of crime and natural disasters – it brings me closer, in mind and thought, to my maker. How about you?

NOTE: If you haven’t read, heard, or don’t know – Adam and Eve, ate the FRUIT and VEGGIES that were already in the Garden of Eden. When cast out of the garden, their punishment (so to speak) was to till the earth and grow their own FRUIT and VEGGIES.

We are still growing our own today – or we wouldn’t have natural foods to eat. The growing of food process, however, has been altered by man’s addition of pesticides, etc. which are not good for man’s physical body. But then, God also is the creator of “freedom of choice”.

Apply this when you read my blogs. I recommend, I bring to light the unknown to many of you of things unusual or new. In the end it is up to you to make your own CHOICE. 

Blessings to you all!

 

Magnesium can be more than one thing. Magnesium can be a silver-white light malleable ductile metallic element used in metallurgical and chemical processes, or, it can be called Magnesium carbonate – a white crystalline salt (MgCO, that occurs naturally as dolomite and magnesite, or, it can be magnesium chloride – a bitter deliquescent salt used as a source of magnesium metal, or, magnesium hydroxide – a slightly alkaline crystalline compound use as a laxative and gastric antacid, or, magnesium oxide – magnesia, or magnesium sulfate – a sulfate of magnesium – a white salt MgSO used in medicine and in industry (Epsom Salts).

So what magnesium source are we concerned with when it comes to HEALTH?

Did you know Magnesium is a mineral. A mineral not often heard about except when it comes to the term ‘Milk of Magnesia’.

Milk of Magnesia was something that I was given as child growing up when my stool was hard or it was difficult release. My sisters and I were always given Milk of Magnesia and told it would soften our ‘stool’ so it could be passed easier. But is that all we know about Magnesium?

As a mineral, it may well be one of modern medicine’s best kept secrets. Medically speaking, magnesium is “a white mineral element found in soft tissue, muscles, bones, and to some extent in the body fluids. It is a naturally occurring element on earth, being extracted from wells, and sea water. The human body contains approximately 25 gm. of magnesium, most of which is in the bones. Muscles contain less of it than they do of calcium. It is also in the blood.” (Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary)

Magnesium is found in food, grains, fruits, and vegetables, in sufficient quantities that it is not necessary to make special dietary planning to include it. A typical diet contains 200 to 400 mg., however, very little of this is absorbed. When in the younger years, magnesium is usually not of much concern to the health of a human person; but, as one ages magnesium is depleted more quickly in the body and then, suddenly, we, as senior citizens are told we need to take a magnesium supplement- at least 300-400 mg. per day.

The function of  magnesium is to activate enzymes that catalyze reactions between phosphate ions and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). “It is also associated with regulation of body temperature, neuromuscular contraction, and synthesis of protein.” “A deficiency is similar to that produced by hypocalcemia, weakness, and mental depression.”

What you don’t hear or know is that magnesium is the regulator of over 300 vital processes in your body. You hear about Mineral Baths today as being good for you. In the era of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, the people soaked in mineral baths to help restore the magnesium in their bodies. In Chinese Medicine it is considered the “lamp of life”.  A good soak in the tub filled with warm water and Epsom Salts, will do the same thing. The magnesium in the Epsom Salt is absorbed into the body through the skin and into the blood stream.

I have clients who tell me their woes about sore muscles, constipation, low energy levels, fatigue, etc. I have experienced the sore muscle syndrome myself. But I know that Magnesium will always come to my rescue, when nothing else does.

So, if magnesium can regulate the vital processes of the body, what are some of those processes?  Here are a few examples: Magnesium can…..

• fight off pollution of the blood, and regulate calcium
• support a healthy immune system
• help you digest protein and metabolize fat
• maintain nerve function
• keep joints fluid and mobile, and relax muscles
• help balance blood sugar and curb sugar cravings
• create energy
• reduce offensive body odors
• combat stress
• normalize/regulate bowel issues
• insure deeper, and more satisfying sleep
• emergency rooms have magnesium on their crash carts, and use it intravenously to quickly regulate proper heart rhythm for those in need of heart support.
  Magnesium being a natural mineral cannot be patented. It is safe and has natural restorative powers. As a supplement you can get it in pill, capsule, or powdered form. I prefer the powdered, which I put in water or a smoothie, or juice. The dosage varies depending upon your health situation, as does  the type of magnesium you might need. Consult your doctor for the dosage and type good for your needs. Overdosing on magnesium, as with anything else can have adverse side affects.

I love magnesium and, ever since I heard about the above benefits, use it on a regular basis. It does work with the natural body to help the body heal itself. I find it to be, as well, a great pain reliever, and a great supplement when taken during the detoxification process, which is the golden key to maximum good health!

       God Bless!

 

 

I have had a lot of requests asking me to blog on CHOLESTEROL. What is it really all about.

           WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL?

My handy Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary says: “Cholesterol is a monohydric alcohol. A sterol (one of a group of substances related to fats and belonging to the lipoids) widely distributed in animal tissues, cells and body fluids. It occurs in the yolk of eggs, various oils, fats, and nerve tissue of the brain and spinal cord. It can be synthesized in the liver and is a normal constituent of the bile – a secretion of the liver.  It is important in metabolism serving as a precursor of various steroid hormones e.g., sex hormones, adrenal corticoids.” The Collegiate Dictionary says, “It is important in physiological processes and is implicated, experimentally, as a factor in arteriosclerosis (thickening of the walls of the arterioles with loss of elasticity and contractility).”

I am assuming that the above definition of ‘cholesterol‘ is why the doctors have come to the conclusion that ‘Cholesterol‘ is bad for us. But is that all that one needs to know? They basically tell you that you have high cholesterol because of the LDL and HDL numbers being high. But what does LDL and HDL mean – what is it?

First, you have to understand the working of the body and the cells in it; the utilization of nutrition to and into our cells, and the blood system and its highways (the vascular system).

The body is basically one big cell with little cells working together and doing all the work for the big cell. What comes to my mind is an umbrella and the parts that make it open and close etc. in order for it to be useful.  These little cells make up the organs of the body, of which there are many, each with its own special task to do. And, for those of you who are not aware; most organs are in pairs. Any one organ may be extirpated and the remaining one will do all necessary functions peculiar to it.

The liver – the largest organ in the body – plays an important part in the absorption of nutrients; it can create chemical changes, store nutrients, or pass them on unchanged to the rest of the body for utilization. The liver is really a miraculous organ, as it can create its own amino acids, change sugars to fats, and vice versa. It can create or destroy. The liver creates the cholesterol in the body.

In other of my blogs I have commented on alkalinity versus acidity. When our body becomes acidic from the nutrients we put into our body our nutrition becomes coagulating (anionic). Our building materials – fats, fuels, minerals and other compounds start sticking or clumping together. This is what the doctors are telling us happens in our blood vessels or veins. What they don’t tell you is that the ACIDITY, which comes from most of the foods we eat, is heat-producing and this, (the acidity), causes the inflammation in the walls of the vascular system throughout the body.

Quoting Dr. Robert Morse, N.D. “Lipids (fats) begin sticking to the walls of the vessels in hopes of bufferingg this inflammation. But lipid bonding also causes lipid stones, such as gallbladder and liver stones.” He goes on to say; “CHOLESTEROL IS THE MOST COMMON ANTI-INFLAMMATORY LIPID THAT THE BODY USES TO FIGHT THIS INFLAMMATION. When the tissues become more acidic and this inflames, the liver will produce more cholesterol to fight it.” What happens next?  The blood cholesterol levels begin to elevate. Minerals start bonding and form “rock-type” stones which show up as kidney stones, bone spurs, and the like.

Cholesterol is also referred to as “plaque.” Your liver produces an abundant amount of cholesterol, which is an important lipid used by the body for many reasons.  A large portion of a cell’s membrane wall is cholesterol. The adrenal glands (a triangular-shaped body adjacent to and covering the superior surface of each kidney), use cholesterol to make cortical-type steroids, which are, in part, the body’s anti-inflammatories.  Inflammation, simply put, means that the body is on fire.  When the body becomes acidic from a predominately acid forming diet, the adrenal glands are affected and become weak making it harder for the body to adequately defend itself against the inflammation which is a killer of cells. Dr. Morse tells us that “the body, in its infinite wisdom tries to compensate for this acidic condition by several methods, including: steroid production, cholesterol (lipid) plaquing, calcium extraction, and electrolyte or fluid retention.” This is the body’s attempt to alkalize itself – to fight acidosis in a highly acidic body. Alkalization is key to tissue regeneration, to the breaking up of stones, and to the removal of plaqued lipids. Lipid plaquing from inflammation/acidosis causes poor circulation leading to tissue death, heart attack and strokes.”

The plaquing from inflammation is what the medical doctors emphasize when they talk about high cholesterol levels (LDL’s, HDL’s). They then give you prescription drugs to supposedly solve the cholesterol issues and the high blood pressure as well as other medical issues.

Are you still confused?  What do you need to  know to understand about the LDL and HDL?  We are often told the LDL is high, the HDL is high, or the LDL is high and the HDL is low, or the LDL is low and the HDL is high. Or, that the LDL is the Bad Cholesterol and the HDL is the good Cholesterol. But what does that all mean?

To make it simple, Cholesterol is essential for the formation of steroids (anti-inflammatory: anabolic type), bile acids and cellular wall membranes. Cholesterol can only be used by the body in its free form. This free cholesterol is then bound or connected to transporters for transport through the blood to the cells. In most cooked foods, and especially meats, lipids become bonded and are no longer free. The LDL and HDL are proteins. LDL’s are low-density proteins, and HDL’s are high-density proteins. I never really understood this, and it is interesting to find out that LDL’s are related not only to blood problems, but liver issues, malabsorption, hyperthyroidism, sepsis and stress to name a few health problems. And, that HDL’s are related to adrenal function, biliary cirrhosis, nephritis, high blood pressure and/or other conditions, and dietary habits or, the over eating of meats.

In conclusion, from what I have researched, most of the cholesterol problems are related to, again, the liver and the adrenal glands, which are in turn the cause of a myriad of health issues, over and above the only ones we hear about, in relation to cholesterol, which are the heart problems and blood pressure problems. And, that the foods we eat are the cause of the cause of most health issues.

Also, how I see it, the LDL and HDL numbers need to balance correctly for everything to be normal in the Liver and Adrenal Gland activity areas of the body. If the Liver is not working correctly and the Adrenal Glands are weak, that does not create balance. Everyone has their own LDL and HDL numbers. If you have any questions, you need to discuss your numbers with your doctor and hopefully he can explain what they represent in a way that you can understand them.

I like what Dr. Morse suggests when  he talks about removing the firewall safely. “It is not difficult to remove this plaque and to break up lipid-type stones if you consume an 80-100 percent raw-food diet. Raw foods remove inflammation through alkalization and increased steroid production, thus dissolving stones and plaque lipids. This will unclog the body, increasing blood flow to tissues, which in turn increases nutrition and energy to cells. This will restore or regenerate these weakened areas.”

I hope this has helped one and all to better understand Cholesterol. 

The answer to all the above issues, of course, leads back to the need for DETOXIFICATION. 

ALKALIZE AND ENERGIZE, AND YOUR BODY WILL CLEAN AND REBUILD ITSELF.

God Bless!

If you have come to my Test Kitchen, I succeeded in peeking your interest in MORINGA.

My experience with Moringa has been phenomenal. About 5 years ago, I purchased some seeds – planted what I needed and gave the rest to a neighbor. We both, now have more Moringa than we know what to do with. So, I manufacture Moringa Products as a Cottage Industry. I dry the leaves, make them into tea, powder and with the powder I fill capsules. This way, all the moringa we grow is being used.

Moringa trees love warm weather and dry conditions. I learned that the roots are like little balls. When it rains they fill up with water and use the water as it is needed for the tree growth. I thought that was very interesting. They grow continuously, and so have to be pruned continuously. They can grow to be 15 or more feet tall. I harvest them at about 7 to 10 feet – because I can reach the branches easier. The bugs hate them. Very few weeds grow beneath them. I do not spray them or fertilize them with any chemicals. My trees are truly organic, clean and ‘natural’. Therefore all my products are totally organic. All parts of the tree can be used as food, however, I only use the leaves, the smaller part of the branch, and the stem the leaves are on. The only part of the tree that may be toxic is the trunk, and is not useable as a food source. It has white flowers and pods that look like big beans which hold the seeds. The flowers and pods/with seeds are both edible. I am finding that in order for the tree to have flowers and pods you have to let the tree grow very, very big. I let my trees grow to that state only 1 time, because I found the leaves too hard for me to harvest when the trees were that big. Being a short person, and a senior, and not wanting to climb a ladder to harvest my moringa, I no longer let my trees get that big. Moringa Oil, is extracted from the pods and/or flowers. Moringa does not spoil. It has a long shelf life. However, it is best stored in a dark container and not exposed to light after it is made into a product. The light, as with many supplement products, slowly destroys the nutrient value of the moringa. Folks who purchase from me, use the product immediately – so they can don’t have to worry about shelf life and just come back for more.

I can personally say my clients have reported to me, they have had a drop in their cholesterol level, bowel movement regulation, sleep apnea gone, weight loss, carpal tunnel gone, better immune systems, more energy, and improvement in their diabetes control as their doctors have lowered their diabetes medication dosages – telling them to keep doing whatever it is they are doing, as their health is improving, and much more.

My neighbor and I both love to pick the leaves fresh and add them to many of the foods we eat. Moringa leaves – considered a herb, as well, can be treated as a vegetable. It can be added to soup, eggs, casseroles, pizza, stew, other vegetables, cereal, sauces, dips, candy, yogurt, breads, fish, chicken – whatever you wish to add them to. I put Moringa (fresh and/or dry), in my Smoothies. I put the powder in a salt shaker and sprinkle the powder on all the food I eat to include fruit. If I want to use it more as an herbal spice, I crush the dried tea leaves – put them in a shaker with larger holes than a salt shaker, and sprinkle them on just about everything I eat. I like the taste better crushed than powdered. Everyone has their own preference.

RECIPES:

MORINGA TEA: Moringa tea is CAFFEINE FREE, making it a refreshing, natural nutritious energy boost.
To BREW:   
Boil or heat the water – keeping the temperature between 130-140 degrees. This ensures nutritional potency. Steep 1 tea bag for 6 – 10 minutes. Sweeteners I use and/or suggest can include natural honey, real maple syrup, Agave’ syrup, Stevia or Truvia. The tea has an earthy flavor. I prefer it iced, so I store it in the refrigerator in a pitcher and drink it at my leisure.

NOTE: Many Americans consume 1 or more cups of coffee, tea, or various forms of soft drinks per day that contain Caffeine. They claim caffeine increases mental alertness, increased metabolic rate and decreased fatigue. You need to remember these effects are short-lived.. Caffeine, however is considered a drug and this drug is also associated with negative side effects to include high blood pressure, insomnia, addiction and dehydration.

After you experience the positive effects and increase vitality you get from drinking Moringa Tea, you may forget about coffee and caffeine products entirely.

MORINGA LEMONADE: Make a 1 gallon of your favorite Lemonade. Add
1 -2 Tbsp. of Moringa powder to it. Stir, let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. Drink at your leisure.

MORINGA/COCONUT BALLS
1 – 2  C Walnuts – ground fine
1 C Shredded Coconut – packed down
2 – 3 Tbsp Coconut Flour
2 Tbsp Moringa Powder
2 Tbsp Agave’ Syrup
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract (optional)

Blend the walnuts, coconut and 1 tbsp of agave’ until smooth. Add other ingredients, decreasing the syrup and/or increasing the coconut flour until the mixture is thick enough to roll into balls. Roll into balls and then roll on loose shredded coconut to coat. Put in a container and store in the refrigerator. They will be good stored for up to 2 months. You can wrap them individually, put them in a fun container and give them as a gift. YUMMY!

MORINGA SMOOTHIE
l small banana
1/4 cup blueberries and/or strawberries
1 Tbsp Moringa Powder or leaves fresh or dried
2-3 chunks of fresh pineapple
1/2 cup your favorite yogurt
Honey, to sweeten (optional)
Crushed Ice
Put all the ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. You can substitute Coconut Milk (the thick creamy kind found in the health food store – canned) for the yogurt. Color will vary according to the fruit used. You can add nuts, anything other fruit or even broccoli or kale – if you want to get creative. You can also use other sweeteners – just stay away from the processed sugar.

Make both of the recipes your own – I am still working on other Moringa recipes and will post them here in the Test Kitchen later.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE CREATIVE! 

ENJOY!

 

Moringa oleifera, also known as the drumstick tree or horseradish tree, originates from the Himalaya-region in northwest India, but is now also cultivated in various countries across Asia, South America, Africa, the Caribbean and the southern U.S. to include Florida.

Moringa, while it’s been around in various societies for thousands of years, it is one of the newer discoveries of modern science.

Groups such as Church World Service National Science Foundation and others have introduced the different health benefits of the Moringa tree to various underdeveloped countries to combat malnutrition, especially, in the children.

To date, researchers and scientists have only investigated a fraction of the claimed health benefits of Moringa. Moringa has one of the highest nutritional contents of any plant. 

Moringa continues to amaze people with its incredible balance of antioxidants, minerals and 18 amino acids. Moringa translates to mean “miracle” and the Moringa tree truly is nature’s miracle.

The Nutritional Profile data from the USDA Nutrient Database shows moringa to contain: 7 X more Vitamin C than oranges; 4X more Vitamin A than carrots; 4X more Calcium and 2X more Protein than milk; 3X more Potassium than Bananas; 3X more Vitamin E than Spinach; 3X more Iron than Almonds; is rich in both Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids; and is also rich in Magnesium and fiber, flavonoids, including Quercetin, Kaempferol, Beta-Sitosterol, Caffeoylquinic acid, Zeatin, Silymarin and essential minerals such as zinc. This makes Moringa Oleifera leaf an ideal natural source for the vitamins, minerals and energy a person’s body craves. AND, since it is a NATURAL PLANT, the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants it provides are easily absorbed in the body.

Now that you know what it provides the body healthwise, how does this benefit the body?

MORINGA leaves have been traditionally used to combat more than 300 different conditions. To name a few, MORINGA:

• Promotes healthy skin, balances hormones, soothes the nervous system
• Digestion, eyesight, mental clarity, alleviate headaches
• Supports the immune system, reduces allergic tendencies, protects the bones
• Helps regulate Metabolism, decreases water retention
• Assists Weight Control, helps you achieve a better night’s sleep
• Lowers Cholesterol, Reduces inflammation, balances Blood Sugar Levels
• Increases the milk supply of breastfeeding mothers
• Supports greater energy, Detoxifies the body, promotes healthy hair
• Boosts the body’s NATURAL defenses, & Normalizes bowel movements

Moringa is typically eaten or taken in one of several forms: fresh leaf, dried leaf (as a spice or tea), dried leaf powder, capsules, or even cooked. Moringa leaves grow “clean”. You need only to pick them and eat them.

Have I peeked your interest? I will follow with more information on Moringa – the ‘MIRACLE’ tree, and Recipes in my Test Kitchen Blog.

Until then, may GOD BLESS!

Don’t let OPIOIDS put a price on your life. Your body is your prize possession. It is what you came into this world with and have grown up with, and it is the only one you will ever have.

• Do you love it, or are you ashamed of it?
• Do you say, “It isn’t like me to be fat, thin, unhealthy, tired etc.?
• Do you cover it up, try to dispose of it, carry it around like a piece of baggage?
• Or, do you live life in it, exercise it, cherish it, take care of it and clothe it as a visual token or yourself?

It has been said before, and we see it every day, that not everyone is really happy, really lovely, really successful in life. In order to change that, one has to establish some sort of harmony with the body they live in.

There are many things to hate about ourselves – our hair, hips, legs, noses, necks, whole bodies, etc. We show our disapproval by struggling to “get a life” in this strange world we live in. We plea for love (self and from others), for respect, fun, better health, more time to accomplish our dreams etc. We rationalize why this can’t be done, saying the future is unpredictable.  Not so! We can change our destiny. Put the wheels in motion. DO IT NOW! It doesn’t matter what age you are, or any part of the world you are in. There is always someone out there who can help you, who have the skills to aid you in becoming a NEW YOU!

OPIOIDS are considered to be prescription drugs, and over the counter drugs. Opioids are prescribed  by doctors for the money or just plain ignorance. They are usually prescribed to counteract pain, and given to people, in many instances,  whether there is a need for the pain medication or not.

Doctors are primed in medical school to prescribe drugs….but it has gotten out of hand. It is now to the point of dangerous. Other uses for drugs include: heart failure, most inflammatory issues – which always cause pain, respiratory system failure, and the list goes on and on. Luckily, for the human race, most people in the medical field are now trying to put a stop to the OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

My advice – don’t let yourself become addicted. Take responsibility for your life. Transform yourself by awakening to God, his doctrine, and His Love for you. Take time to connect with nature, and God, and your inner self. Improve the quality of your relationship to others and life.

Become a NEW YOU! Don’t let the OPIOID EPIDEMIC put you six feet under or, turn you to ashes. 

This new chapter will talk about remedies found in nature that have been used for hundreds to thousands of years to help people heal themselves.

ALOE VERA…one of my favorites.
I grow Aloe-Vera plants in my yard, but they can also be grown in pots as house plants. They are easy to grow and take little care. There are at least five well-known varieties to include the Dorian Black, Yellow Teeth, Orange Aloe, Red Aloe,  and Gold tooth aloe. In reality there are over 200 types of Aloe plants.

Aloe Vera is a member of the lily family and has been a well-respected healer for thousands of years ( 6000 years to be exact). Originating in Africa, they as well, grow in South and Central America and in the Mediterranean. Over the years, the healing effects of the Aloe Vera gel has become familiar to the public. However, the juice extracted along with the gel from the inner side of the leaf is also a potent healer.

The most well-known use of the gel is the topical use for the healing of burns. My experience for this was when in beauty school I burned my wrist with a curling iron. When I got home I cut a leaf off the Aloe Vera plant I had growing in a pot, split the leaf and laid it on my wrist. To keep it in place, I wrapped it with gauze, leaving it on all night. To my surprise the blister on my wrist healed almost totally over night. By the end of the week it was completely healed. That surprised me since it was a second degree burn. This would be considered the therapeutic use of the gel, which can also be used for minor cuts, scrapes and bruises.

The juice can be taken internally as well as be used externally. Aloe-vera gel and juice is a natural moisturizer, and contains anti-inflammatory and antifungal components. Continue reading “Natural Remedies, Aloe-Vera”

I am back on track in the TEST KITCHEN. So much to do and not enough time to do it all. I spent this morning making Buckwheat Pancakes.

I have always loved BUCKWHEAT. My dad used to make Buckwheat pancakes all the time. As a kid you never pay much attention to how something is done or what ingredients are used, when mom or dad is cooking – as I didn’t. The pancakes tasted good so I ate them and liked them.

Oddly enough – I did not know that BUCKWHEAT is not a type of wheat or even a grain. It is, rather, a fruit seed related to rhubarb, knotweed, and sorrel. “The fruit is an achene, similar to sunflower seed, with a single seed inside a hard outer hull. The starchy endosperm is white and makes up most or all of the buckwheat flour. The seed coat is green or tan, which darkens buckwheat flour.” (source of quote – Wikipedia)

Who would have thought. For any of you who want to be Gluten Free, or for those with celiac disease, here is your answer – use Buckwheat flour in place of regular flour. As a “pseudocereal”, buckwheat is rich in complex carbohydrates, and it’s health benefits are many and varied.

Buckwheat’s hulls and seeds, and also the ground flour contains what are known as phenolic compounds and OXIDANT REDUCERS. The benefits derived from this include support for the brain as well as protective effects against cancer and cardiovascular disease. Because it is high in fiber content along with phytonutirent rutin (an oxidant reducer), it supports a healthy circulatory system and helps fight high blood pressure. Further research shows that buckwheat can also improve cholesterol levels – lowering the LDL (“bad cholesterol”) and highers the HDL level (“good cholesterol’).  It also has a hand in improving inflammation.

Back to the pancakes, of which there are many Buckwheat Pancake recipes, if you want to research them. The one I would like to share with you is my own. It has all the ingredients I like to cook with. I experimented until I found what works good and tastes good, as well. I like simple.

FLUFFY BUCKWHEAT PANCAKES
1 cup Buckwheat flour
1/4 cup Coconut flour
1 Tbs organic raw sugar
1/2 Tsp baking powder
1/2 Tsp baking soda
1/4 Tsp sea salt
2 large eggs – well beaten
2 Tbs butter, melted
1 cup Coconut milk

1.  Into a medium bowl, put the 6 dry ingredients – buckwheat flour, coconut flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt.
2.  In a small bowl combine the eggs, melted butter, and coconut milk.
3.  Add the dry and liquid ingredients together. Mix until combined.
4.  Heat griddle or stainless steel skillet. Test the temperature with a drop of cold water onto the hot surface – water should roll off in drops.
5.  Use 1/4 cup or more batter for each pancake depending on the size you want to make. It will not bubble like most pancakes do, but will look firm around the edges. Turn: cook until done.

NOTES:

• You can add vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg or any other seasonings you want. I did one batch with vanilla added. I did not find it added to or took away from the flavor of the pancakes.
• The pancakes will not be a golden brown color because of the color of the flour. They will be light in color and you may not think they are done; but they are.
• Also, I seldom use my stove top to cook on. I cook on my NuWave Hot plate (because I can regulate the temperature). I use only stainless steel cookware ((50 years old), or the new NuWave cookware. I did not use any oil on my NuWave skillet – it looked like I had never used it when I got through making the pancakes.
• I decided to be creative; after I dropped the batter onto the pan I spread it real thin with the back of a spoon. The pancakes when cooked looked like bread rounds with the consistency of bread. I will use them to make open face sandwiches. 

As pancakes, I spread with butter before I put on real maple syrup or my homemade Prickly Pear Cactus syrup.  Yummy!

Do your own thing – add blueberries or strawberries to the batter; put a spoonful of whip cream on top with your favorite berries added and eat as desert. HAVE FUN WITH THIS ONE!

GOD BLESS – and be CREATIVE!

I tell my clients all the time that in order to achieve quality health they have to make a life long life style change. Everyone’s change will be different depending on what their life style is. The responses I’ve met include:  “I can’t, I’m going to die anyway so why change what I like doing.” “I’ve been told that by my doctor, so you are not telling anything I don’t already know.” “I have tried, but it’s too hard.” “Why can’t I just do it for a little while.”

What does this sound like to you?  To me it is ATTITUDE! The magic word – ATTITUDE!

While cleaning out stuff, which we all do every once in a while, I ran across a piece of paper I have saved for a long time. It was actually starting to turn brown and get crumbly. As I read what was on it, I decided it was important enough to share it with you, my readers. So here it is!

                                                                      ATTITUDE

“It is our ATTITUDE at the beginning of a task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.

It is our ATTITUDE, toward life which determines life’s ATTITUDE toward us.

We are independent. It is impossible to succeed without others, and it is our ATTITUDE toward others that will determine their ATTITUDE toward us.

Before a person can achieve the kind of life he wants, he must become that kind of individual. He must think, act, talk, walk, and conduct himself in all of his affairs as would the person he wishes to become.

The higher you go in any organization of value, the better the ATTITUDE you will find.

Your mind can hold only one thought at a time and, since there is nothing at all to be gained by being negative, be positive.

The deepest craving of human beings is to be needed, to feel important, to be appreciated. Give it to them, and they’ll return it to you.

Look for the best in new ideas. As someone said, “I never meet a person that I couldn’t learn something from”.

Don’t waste valuable time broadcasting personal problems. It probably won’t help you – it cannot help others.

Don’t talk about your health – unless it’s good.

Radiate the ATTITUDE of well-being, of confidence, of a person that knows where he’s going. This will inspire others around you, and you’ll find good things will begin happening to you.

For the rest of the week, treat everyone with whom you come in contact as the most important person on earth. If you’ll do it for 30 days, you’ll do it for the rest of your life.”

This quote – as the one in my Quote Column on the right side of my blog, is from Walter Dale Scott – Northwestern University.

Now, as I re-read this quote, I know why I kept a copy of it. I think I will frame it and hang it on my wall. In my opinion, it is something everyone should keep on their mind throughout life. I feel it can be a wonderful basis for healing what ails us all during the good times, as well as the bad times most of us face during our lifetime. Put it to the test. Do you need to change your ATTITUDE?

God Bless!