Magnesium: It's Vital

The journey I have been on in the last year and a half has been.......dizzying.

DIZZYING:    present participle of diz·zy
Make (someone) feel unsteady, confused, or amazed: "the dizzying rate of change."

What started with a desperate attempt to stop the progression of my disease has evolved into information of head spinning, amazing, and confusing proportions!! From eating organic food, to taking vital supplements, to not drinking fluoridated water, to avoiding aluminum in deodorant - the list of new information circulating in my brain is.......dizzying!!!  This is all good and well, however, I am not content to just let this information sit in my brain.  I feel an overwhelming need to share, teach, inform, help those I care about.  God bless my husband, children, their spouses, my nieces and nephews and anyone who happens to be related to me.  I am a bit....obsessive about getting all of this information out there and I realize it is overwhelming, to say the least.  Quite frankly, it is dizzying - I get it!!!  But sometimes, the information is just too important to not share and today's topic is one of those times.  So, thanks for listening*.  (I've heard that ginger is good when you feel dizzy!!)

WHAT IS MAGNESIUM?
I had given little thought to magnesium and you really don't hear much about it, yet approximately 80% of us are deficient in this vital mineral.  And to complicate matters, it is very difficult to measure our magnesium levels with a blood test.  Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in our body.  Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in our bones.  The other half is found inside cells of body tissues and organs.  Only 1% of magnesium is found in blood, but our bodies work very hard to keep those levels constant.
WHAT DOES MAGNESIUM DO?
Interestingly, researchers are beginning to realize that the importance of magnesium may have been underestimated.  Magnesium is found in over 300 different enzymes in our body and guides a large number of physiological functions, some of which include:  the creation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body's energy molecules; the pumping of our heart; the formation of our bones and teeth; the functioning of our bowel; the relaxation of our blood vessels; and the regulation of our blood sugar levels. 
WHY AM I POSSIBLY DEFICIENT?
Unlike our ancestors, our water no longer comes from streams, rivers, or springs.  We get our water from the tap, using filters, or from pre bottled water.  This means that most of the good stuff has been removed (in an attempt to remove the bad stuff.)  Unfortunately, the vast majority of the minerals our bodies need have been filtered out.  This fact leaves us more susceptible to headaches, fatigue, insomnia, and even morning sickness for pregnant women.  Additionally, our soil has been depleted and ravaged by modern industrial agriculture, removing many of the necessary minerals.  This fact leaves our food supply with far less nutrients.
ARE THERE SYMPTOMS?
The initial symptoms of a magnesium deficiency may be very subtle and obscure.  You may feel cramps, muscle twitches, or pain in your feet.  Other symptoms include loss of appetite, headaches, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, PMS, insomnia, fatigue and weakness.  Do these symptoms mean you have a magnesium deficiency?  Not necessarily, but with 80% of us lacking in this vital mineral, it is certainly worth taking a second look before experiencing more serious symptoms.
WHAT'S A PERSON TO DO??
Good news!  There are a few easy things we can do to increase our magnesium levels. 
1.  We need to eat plenty of organic green vegetables.  I say organic because it has been shown that they contain 40% more nutrients.  I have gotten into a habit of having one or two green juices/smoothies a day.  I have never eaten so much kale, spinach, swiss chard, or romaine in my life! And now I crave them!  (CRAZY!)
2.  If you eat grains, then be certain they have been soaked, sprouted, or fermented (traditional sourdough method) in order to obtain the vital nutrients and best source of magnesium.  (The book Vintage Remedies Guide to Bread may be helpful to those who eat grains.)
3.  Consume other foods high in magnesium levels like nuts, seeds, seaweed, coriander, pumpkin, unsweetened cocoa powder, almond butter, bone broth, and unrefined sea salt.
4.  Limit alcohol and caffeine.  They are appetite suppressants and therefore can deplete our magnesium levels. 
5.  Stay away from sugar.  I was amazed to find out that for every molecule of sugar that we consume, it requires 54 molecules of magnesium to process it!  Sugar just zaps our body of vitamins and minerals.  Remember, sugar is hidden in almost everything.  Think clean eating.
6.  Heal our guts.  Our guts really are the engine that drives our health.  Fermented foods, kefir, yogurt, high quality probiotics are all beneficial in restoring the balance of beneficial bacteria.  This will allow our body to absorb more magnesium.
7.  Let the sun in!  Sun absorption is our main source of Vitamin D, which is essential for magnesium absorption. Therefore, our Vitamin D levels must also be in check.  Personally, I have stopped using sunscreen.  If I am going to be in the sun for a very long time, I will cover up with clothing before using sunscreen.  I want to get as much sun as I can get. 
8.  Magnesium supplements.  Please make sure you research the best option for you and be certain they are of the very best quality.  Personally, I take a high quality magnesium citrate supplement daily that has proven to be highly beneficial.
9.  Transdermal magnesium therapy.  This is new to me, but I know many people who have been transformed by this practice.  In addition to boosting magnesium levels, transdermal magnesium therapy is a natural deodorant!  Bonus!  This is what's been recommended to me: Take 1/2 cup of magnesium flakes and mix with 1/2 cup of warm filtered water in a small spray bottle.  Spray on abdomen 1 - 5 times a day.  I was told to start with once a day and build up.  Magnesium can have a laxative effect on the body and you don't want to get too much too quickly. 
10.  Epsom salt baths!
IN CONCLUSION
Magnesium's role in human health appears to be far more complex than was ever understood.  It's benefits are proving to be far reaching.  GreenMedInfo.com has cited over 100 health benefits of magnesium, including therapeutic benefits for:  Fibromyalgia, Atrial Fibrillation, Type 2 Diabetes, Premenstrual Syndrome, Cardiovascular Disease, Migraines, and Aging.

As I mentioned earlier, bone broth is one of the best sources of magnesium.  The health benefits of eating bone broth are pretty impressive.  From aiding in bone and joint health to providing us with healthy skin, hair, and nails to healing our gut to providing us with essential vitamins and minerals to removing toxins in our body, bone broth is a must eat in our quest for optimal health. 

Here is a link to one of my favorite bone broth recipes.  Her website is amazing.  Enjoy.

http://nomnompaleo.com/post/3615609338/slow-cooker-beef-bone-broth

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  I will be back soon.  We need to talk about fluoride.  Until then, Be Healthy!  Be Happy!  Be Coreageous!

*Please remember that I am not a doctor, scientist, or nutritionist.  If you suspect you may have a magnesium deficiency, I urge you to read, research, and reach out to a health care professional.

“If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them from growing.”

Even though it has been a couple of weeks since the ColorRun, I still have to share this incredible experience with you.  I have secretly always aspired to be a runner.  However, as a youngster, I was always the girl hurling on the side of the track during gym class.  Although I played sports my entire life, I never received the President's Physical Fitness Award (think the 70's) because I could not complete the run portion of the test.  My legs hurt, my back hurt, my stomach hurt, my eyebrows hurt, EVERYTHING HURT.  Well, I guessed running wasn't going to happen for me.  But, truth be told, I loved the fashion of running and couldn't let it go.  You know, running shoes, running shorts, running pants, even runner's watches.  I just love them.  So, when I recently lost a little weight, the dream of running again rose to the surface (have you seen those cool new running jackets with the thumb holes??? in bright neon colors????  I'm in!!!)  Well, I saw a commercial for the ColorRun and was so intrigued.  It said walkers were welcome and fun was the objective.  The runners were covered in pink, orange, yellow and blue "paint" - I LOVE THOSE COLORS - so before I even realized what the heck I was doing, I signed myself up!!!  I was so excited and so scared to death, but more excited.  I asked my husband to join me and I think his words were, "H-E-double L No!"  He seemed most opposed to the paint all over his clothes!!! I, however,  would not be denied!

My tech savvy and supportive son-in-law put the C25K app on my phone and suggested that I maybe use it to train.  So, train I did.  I sought out the healthiest foods to eat.  I joined a local gym and began walking on the treadmill regularly.  Then once I felt stronger, I began using the app to teach my body how to run.  Y'all, it was not pretty.  On more than one occasion, I felt my old friend, Hurl, return!  But I persevered. 

The night before the run, I saw my husband lacing up his shoes and pulling some athletic shorts out of his dresser drawer.  God bless him, he felt badly that I was going to be running/walking alone (unfortunately, my family members were not able to join in this year), so he decided to participate with me.  I was worried sick though, because he has arthritis, bad knees, and had not trained a second.   I said a few prayers that he would be caught up in the fun of it all and not notice the pain or the paint!!  So, at 5 am, we headed to our very first 5 K!!  (Runners get up really early!)

The scene at the ColorRun was like a circus meets a festival meets a sporting event meets a costume party. Bright colors, loud music, vendors, wigs, tutus, and gold lame were everywhere.  THESE ARE MY PEOPLE!!!  I was soaking in every second and just loving life, UNTIL, my group filed into the starting shoot.  Doubt, panic, and terror were trying their best to get me to run right back to our car.  Every single person around me really did look like a runner.  They were thin and fit and they all had on a runner's watch.  I DIDN'T HAVE A WATCH!!  Imposter! Poser! Faux Runner! Thankfully, before I figured out my escape route, the run had begun!  My body just started doing what I had been training it to do.  I was running!! 

The weather was beautiful and all of the people around us were friendly and fun.  We were having a great time, but I really had to focus on what I was doing.  When you have MS, you have to constantly keep your brain engaged, so the communication between your brain and your body is not interrupted.  Because of my brain lesions, there is a risk that my brain will not be firing on all cylinders and the last thing I wanted to do was fall.  So, I stayed really focused on each and every step I took.  Part of the race is on gravel (which I didn't realize beforehand) and that really threw me off a little.  Trying to navigate rocks and stay on my feet was a little tricky at times.  So, I ended up walking more than I had hoped I would, but the goal was to finish and sometimes when you have MS you have to access the risks and adjust accordingly. 

As we approached the last lap, I began to feel myself getting really emotional.  I reflected on the last year and a half of my life.  God has brought me out of a deep and dark pit of pain and hopelessness to a place of renewed optimism and fervent faithfulness.  I felt rejuvenated and started running faster than I had the entire race.  By the time I crossed the finish line, I was a blubbering, paint covered, thankful, humbled, dare I say it, runner!!!! 

I share this experience with hopes that maybe you or someone you know has been living with doubt, uncertainty, complacency, pain, fear, or disease for too long and may need to be encouraged.  I had a dream deep in my heart.  I set a small goal and worked hard to attain it.  I had not done that in a really long time - too long.  I had allowed my disease, lack of confidence, and low self esteem to define me and stop me from setting goals.  As the quote by Coco Chanel in my title suggests, I was allowing stuff to prevent me from growing wings.  But, crossing that finish line really represented what all of us should do:
Believe in ourselves in tough times.  Believe in our ability to succeed.  Believe in our dreams.  Believe in our strengths.  Believe that we possess greatness.

Since the ColorRun, I have completed one additional 5K and I am continuing to train with the hopes of being able to run the entire race in the near future.  I pray that you or someone you know will be encouraged by my journey.  We are all in this together! 

I'll be back soon.  I am currently working on a post about magnesium and fluoride, two really important health topics.  I also have a delicious recipe to share.  See you soon.  Until then, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be Coreageous!

"The Creation of Beauty is Art"

Notice anything new????  I think my blog looks beautiful, don't you agree??? 

The title of this post, "The Creation of Beauty is Art" is a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson.  My extremely talented and uniquely gifted daughter, Jessica, designed my new blog banner.  She has used her artistic abilities to create a beautiful gift for me. 

My sweet girl thought about me and my heart before designing the banner.  She combined my love of the ocean by using sea foam green and paired it with my favorite color, purple.  She chose the tagline, "let love shine in" to represent my love of God, family, friends, and my passion for living a healthy and happy life.  She discreetly incorporated the sun to represent my big love for a warm, sunny day spent at the beach.  And finally, she added the birds to symbolize the beCOREageous part of my journey, as they take flight and soar to new hopes, so will we! 

Jess, you are so dear to my heart.  Your sweet thoughtfulness and beautiful spirit are a treasure to our whole family.  Thank you, my girl!

Before I go, in keeping with the theme of beauty, here is a recipe for a BEAUTIFUL THING.......brownies!!!  Brownies have always been my favorite dessert.  When I was a teenager and friends would come to my house to visit on the weekends, my mom always made a pan of her homemade brownie treats.  I really think my friends came over just for the brownies!!  So, in addition to being yummy, brownies hold sentimental memories.  Here is a recipe I have made many times!

Beautiful Brownies
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon aluminum free baking soda
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup raw honey
1/4 cup grass fed butter, softened
2 free range eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 325 and grease an 8x8 pan.  Using a food processor, pulse the dry ingredients.  Add the remaining ingredients and process until combined.  (You can use a mixer.)  Spread in pan.  Bake 30 minutes. 

Until we meet again, Be Happy, Be Healthy, and BeCOREageous!

Top Ten Terrific Transitions!

I'm back home and ready to write!!

I had a wonderfully busy and blessed ten days.  First, my husband and I set out to babysit our dearly cherished grandbabies.  Our daughter and son-in-law were off to Napa Valley for a hard earned and highly anticipated little get away.  After days of arts and crafts, Legos, and "dueling on horseback",

I was headed to Virginia to help care for my more than precious 5 month old great nephew, while my niece recuperated from surgery.  After several days of loving on that precious young family, I headed back home.

Something fairly profound occurred to me as I was traveling home.  There was a time, not too long ago, that I never, ever, ever would have been able to spend several days taking care of a 2 year old and a 5 year old, then turn around and travel out of state to help take care of a 5 month old.  The traveling, cooking, cleaning, playing, diaper changing, etc. would have sent my MS symptoms into a tail spin.  Normal tired would have turned into debilitating fatigue.  My body would have burned with pain.  I would have been out of commission for days, even weeks.  The inflammation in my body would have resulted in one episode of shakes and tremors after another.  My bowel would have been a mess, to say the least.  As I realized how much different things are in my life now, I became emotional.  Sure, I was tired.  Yes, after a day of one travel delay after another, I needed to rest.  But, I bounced back like I have never bounced back before.  After returning home really late last night, I was able to wake up, get dressed, and start my day, without pain. Here's the proof:

That's me today.  Showered, dressed, and yes, with makeup on, all before the morning was over.  That, dear friends, is a HUGE change.  That is why I got emotional.  I was realizing the benefits of my lifestyle change.  I was pain free and living my best life.  Eating real food, sticking to my health plan - that was the difference. 

Speaking of health plan, I have had several people tell me that they would be very interested in making some changes in their food choices.  Yeah, Team!!  Many have said that going full speed ahead into making huge changes is not for them.  They would prefer to take small steps and have asked me what changes they could start with.  So, after giving it some thought, here are my
Top Ten Terrific Transitions to consider making:

1.  Grass Fed Meat - Real beef is grass fed and a major source of Omega 3 fats.  Eating grass fed meat is most in harmony with our physiology.  Every aspect of our bodies will function better when we eat products from animals raised on grass.  Also, it is naturally leaner than grain fed beef.
2.  Eggs - Free range eggs are the way to go.  There is absolutely no comparison between an egg from a chicken living in awful conditions with no access to the outdoors and a free roaming chicken receiving sunshine and a variety of foods which increase the nutritional quality of the eggs.
3.  Butter - Step away from the margarine.  Instead, try eating organic butter from grass fed cows.  It is a great source of essential vitamins and helps fat soluble vitamins get absorbed into our bodies.  I buy Kerrygold butter.  It is so delicious.
4.  Nut Butters - only the nuts, please.  Almond butter and cashew butter are delicious and so beneficial.  Many brands add sugar and hydrogenated vegetable oils, so avoid those. 
5.  Coconut Oil - The benefits of coconut oil are endless.  Replace your vegetable oils with coconut oil.  I cook with it for everything.  Look for organic, pure extra virgin for the highest quality.
6.  Fresh fruits and vegetables - Organic is best, to avoid all pesticides, herbicides, and GMO's.  Many of us grew up on canned veggies, but the difference in taste and nutritional value is substantial.  Don't forget, they also make delicious smoothies.
7.  Sweeteners - Natural is naturally better!  Refined sugars wreak havoc on our bodies, so consider using only raw honey, pure maple syrup or coconut sugar.  Each one of those will still satisfy your sweet tooth and add minerals and other nutritional benefits.  
8.  Milk - I have switched to almond milk, but for die hard dairy lovers, RAW MILK does a body good.  It is easier to digest, more nutritious, safer, and keeps cows happy!  Here is a great and informative article to further explain.  http://www.cheeseslave.com/top-ten-reasons-to-drink-raw-milk/
9.  Probiotics - I really can't say enough about the advantages of taking/eating/drinking probiotics.  They can be ingested through a good quality supplement, eating plain full fat yogurt, drinking kombucha, or eating an array of fermented foods.  Probiotics promote health by helping our bodies detoxify, enhancing our gut health, and boosting our immunities. 
10.  Sunshine - I am a flip flop and beach loving kind of girl, so I was delighted to learn about the advantages and necessities of sunshine to our health.  We need it to produce D3.  We have been conditioned to be afraid of the sun, but those fears are really unfounded.   Our body needs sunlight in the same way it needs nutrients. In addition to the noticeable lift it gives our mood, it also helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, improve immunity, regulate weight, reverse many chronic diseases, protect us from many cancers and improve our overall health and happiness.  So, let the sun shine in!

In making this list I considered our bodies as a whole.  I hope these ten changes will seem reasonable and attainable for you.  I believe they will make a huge difference in your overall well being.

Well, thank you so much for reading.  Please feel free to share this information with someone you know who might be searching for better food choices for their family or struggling with health concerns.

I will be in touch soon.  Until then, please Be Healthy and Happy!

See You Soon!

I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again........The simple fact that every single time I am going to travel on an airplane this song runs through my mind and the simple fact that no one younger than, let's say 40, knows what in the world this song is, proves that I am no spring chicken!!  All that to say, I'm leaving on a jet plane!!!  Since I just started writing again, I thought I would communicate to you that I am going to be gone for a little while.  I'll miss you!

But, I am richly blessed to be leaving to take care of and/or visit these beautiful faces:

Grammy/Minnie (that's me!) is being called into nanny duty - so I will be away from my computer for a little. 

While I am gone, I leave this website for you to fall in love with.  http://nomnompaleo.com

Her recipes are amazing and her knowledge impressive.  My most favorite so far is her Damn Fine Chicken recipe.  Yes, it is!!! 

http://nomnompaleo.com/post/4207543396/damn-fine-chicken

Take good care.  Be Healthy!  BeCOREageous!  I will look forward to writing soon.

Wait, You're Drinking What?????

Well, to know the old me, is to know that my day could not get started without a cold cola beverage, or two!!  It was not unusual for me to drink an entire six pack of the sweet syrupy stuff in a day.  Heck, back in the day when I was working night shift at the hospital, it was not unusual for me to drink an entire six pack in one shift!  I was truly, truly addicted to the colas!  When I realized I had a little problem with the fizzy nectar, I tried to cut down.  I started drinking cherry cool-aid* and sweet tea - the emphasis on SWEET.  Once I changed my eating habits, it became clear to me that what I was addicted to was the sugar.  Detoxing off the stuff wasn't pretty! 

One of the questions that I am asked most often is, "Now that you are eating differently, what do you drink?"  I thought I'd share my top 3 beverages of choice these days.

First and foremost, WATER!  Most of us are chronically dehydrated and don't even know it.  I know I was.  As our bodies get used to being chronically dehydrated, we lose our sensitivity to water deprivation and don't get thirsty.  Dehydration, even in mild cases, can lead to allergies, depression, mental fog, and digestive problems.  Solution:  Drink more water.  In my research, I have determined that drinking spring water is the best choice for me.  Spring water naturally occurs when water flows to the surface of the earth from below, and is thus where the aquifer surface meets the ground surface.  Well water and spring water are similar in that they are both produced from natural aquifers; however, spring water continues its life cycle naturally to the surface and well water is not fully matured.  Our tap water, although well intended, may not be our best source of water.  Here's why: 

First and foremost is FLOURIDE.  Our water is highly fluoridated and that is problematic.  I will discuss fluoride in a future post, but until then, just know that according to Dr. Joseph Mercola and Dr. Bill Osmunson,
"Fluoride is a toxic industrial waste product, which may also be contaminated with lead, arsenic, radionucleotides, aluminum and other industrial contaminants. The fluoride added to municipal water supplies is not pharmaceutical grade.                        
Twenty-three studies from four countries indicate that even moderate exposure to fluoride lowers IQ.
The daily dose of fluoride recommended by the American Dental Association results in the same level of fluoride in your blood shown to cause an 8-point drop in IQ.
Poison control should be called if you swallow a quarter milligram of fluoride from toothpaste. Meanwhile just ONE glass of water can contain this amount of fluoride.
To remain within "safe" limits, you'd have to use such a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste that one tube would last you several years."
I encourage you to do further research.  This article might be a good start. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/11/dr-bill-osmunson-on-fluoride.aspx

Second, an Associated Press investigation has found that prescription drugs have been found in millions of Americans' drinking water.  Everything from antibiotics to mood stabilizers have been detected.

And third, CHEMICALS!  Many water supplies add chemicals to drinking water to purify it from waste, including chlorine.

Ideally, the very best water to drink would be directly from the spring.  We all don't have that readily available to us.  Bottled water is both wasteful and can be problematic with plastic possibly leeching chemicals.  So, the very best thing most of us can do is drink spring water put into glass bottles.   Here's a sampling of bottled water brands that are fluoride-free: Apani Purifie ** Aqua Panna ** Arrowhead ** Calistoga Spring ** Crystal Geyser ** Deer Park North ** Deer Park South ** Great Bear ** Hinkley & Schmidt ** Ice Mountain Keeper Springs ** Loon Country Natural Spring88 **Mountain Valley ** NARA International Himalayan Spring Ozarka ** Penta ** Poland Spring Snow Valley Mountain ** Sparkletts
 
I am able to get several of the brands in glass bottles at my local Natural Grocers.  It's extra delicious with some citrus!

My next go-to drink is a beautifully extracted glass of organic fruits and vegetables.  With juicing being one of the newest rages, everyone is becoming familiar with the benefits.  There is some discussion as to whether juicing, blending, or extracting is the best way to go.  Honestly, I really don't know the answer to that.  When I was setting my goals for the new year, I felt like juicing was the next piece in my puzzle of achieving optimal health.  I knew that valuable and sensitive nutrients become damaged when heated.  Due to my seriously compromised gut and extensive digestive problems, I knew that I wasn't absorbing enough of the nutrients from fruits and vegetables, and juicing seemed like the solution.  I have to give a shout out to my sister- in -law, Sally, for introducing me to the immense benefits of juicing.  Sally is our family's foremother in the area of health and nutrition.  She was eating healthy before eating healthy was cool!  Thanks, Sal - I am hooked!   Well, after reading and talking to many people, we recently bought a Nutribullet.  I am not on their payroll and don't get a kick back - but I want my own infomercial!!  Seriously, I smile when I wake up in the morning and greet my Nutribullet in the kitchen.  Honestly, we bought it because it was the most reasonably priced, best reviewed appliance in our price range.  So, technically, we are extracting!  "When you prepare and consume foods in the Nutribullet - the superfood nutrition extractor - you ingest food in its most absorptive state.  So even the weakest of digestive systems can absorb and utilize the nutrition within!"   Y'all, I can honestly, without reservation say, that since I have started extracting I just feel better.   I have more energy.  I feel lighter.  My mind is sharper.  Crazy how putting some organic kale, blueberries, swiss chard, and strawberries in a bullet, blending, and drinking can make you feel like a million bucks.  The recipes are endless, as are the rewards!

And finally, I have saved the "WAIT, SO YOU'RE DRINKING WHAT????" moment for the very end.  I drink a cup of BULLETPROOF COFFEE every morning.  What is that you ask? 
2 cups of organic, low toxic, hot brewed coffee, 2 tablespoons of Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter (unsalted from grass fed cows) and 1-2 tablespoons of MCT oil (medium chain triglyceride. MCTs passively diffuse from the GI tract  to the portal system [longer fatty acids are absorbed into the lymphatic system] without requirement for modification like long-chain fatty acids or very-long-chain fatty acids. In addition, MCTs do not require bile salts for digestion. Patients that have malnutrition or malabsorption syndromes are treated with MCTs because they do not require energy for absorption, utilization, or storage. I choose Coconut Oil.)   My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  I hear ya - it's crazy.  My kids don't hesitate in telling me it's crazy.  My husband just sort of humors me!  There is a lot of controversy about whether this is brilliant or bogus.  Here is the link to Dave Asprey's post regarding bulletproof coffee.  Reading the benefits from the creator himself seems wiser than me trying to explain.
http://www.bulletproofexec.com/how-to-make-your-coffee-bulletproof-and-your-morning-too/

However, I am here to tell you that after drinking the coffee, my appetite is manageable, my energy is high and my mind is clear.  I am definitely more productive.   I don't know why (although I suspect it is the addition of healthy fats), but I do know that it is delicious and I want some now!  Let me know if you try it and what you think.  It is an acquired taste and texture, so give it time.  It is very best if you use an immersion blender or Magic Bullet to mix ingredients.

 

So, there you have it.  For the most part, I drink spring water, yummy extracted organic fruit and vegetable concoctions, and bulletproof coffee!!  Gone are my days of cola, cool- aid*, and sweet tea!   

In keeping with my personal mission to become braver and more COREAGEOUS, I'd like to introduce you to www.ournourishingroots.com  I am new to her site and enjoy reading her very much.  She did something so incredibly brave today, it blew my mind.  Read her post "It's Time.  Today is the Day" and be inspired.

Thank you again for reading.  I'm a happy girl when I write and your support is such a blessing. 

Until next time, Be Healthy! Why not get yourself something delicious to drink! 

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."  Maya Angelou

(* purposely misspelled)

 

 

 

 

 

Carragee.......what????

Over the course of the last year, I have become a consistent label reader.  Early on,  a trip to the store could take me several hours just because I was reading, and reading, and reading!!!  I started seeing the ingredient Carrageenan listed in a lot of things.  Upon initial research, I learned that Carrageenan is derived from red seaweed.  I thought it benign enough, because seaweed is supposed to be healthy for us, right???  Well, thankfully, smarter, more informed people set me on a course of further investigation.  Bottom line, just say no.  Let me explain.

Carrageenan is a polysaccharide (a complex carbohydrate, as starch, inulin, or cellulose, formed by the combination of nine or more monosaccharides and capable of hydrolyzing to these simpler sugars - that was for the benefit of my "need to know all the scientific information" friends) indeed from red seaweed.  On a molecular level it is similar to plastic, able to bend easily.  This makes it a useful additive.  Since it is inexpensive and easy to produce, it is used as a thickening agent in a lot of things, such as, but not limited to:

*  almond, soy, rice, coconut milks
*  whipping cream
*  toothpaste
*  pet food
*  beer
*  shaving cream
*  shoe polish
*  gummy products
*  chocolate milk
*  cottage cheese
*  ice cream
*  milk boxes
*  sour cream
*  cheese
*  dips
*  baby formula
*  lunch meat

Sadly, there are many more products that contain carrageenan, even organic products.

Many doctors, scientists, researchers, and health enthusiasts are seriously concerned about the risks of carrageenan being linked to cancer and inflammation.  Even Wikipedia stated, "Starting in the late 1960's, research has linked food grade carrageenan to gastrointestinal disease in laboratory animals, including ulcerative colitis-like disease, intestinal lesions, ulcerations, and colon cancer."    It goes on to state, "A 2012 study showed that mice given food grade carrageenan in the diet exhibited impaired glucose tolerance and increased insulin resistance."

Do you want to hear something crazy???  When scientists want to create an inflammatory response in laboratory rats (to induce tumors, etc.) , what do they use????  Carrageenan.  Seriously.  They have been doing it in labs for more than 40 years.  Ingesting carrageenan has been found to cause inflammation by depressing the activity of macrophages (a type of white blood cell that are part of your body's defense mechanism and also part of the immune response, basically immune cells that act like garbage collectors against harmful bacteria.)

To summarize, The Environmental Working Group (Skin Deep database) indicates that animal studies have shown kidney, respiratory, gastrointestinal, brain and nervous system, and blood effects with very low doses of carrageenan.  Researcher Dr.  Joanne Tobacman, University of Iowa, states, "There seems to be enough evidence associating carrageenan with significant gastrointestinal lesions, including malignancies, to avoid ingesting it." 

Well, I am sure you agree, with scientific evidence to prove, at the very least, reason to be wary - it is just not worth it.  We are on a path to create optimum health for ourselves and for our families.  Carrageenan is not part of the plan!

Here is a link I hope will be helpful.  http://www.cornucopia.org/shopping-guide-to-avoiding-organic-foods-with-carrageenan/

Additionally, my health food store Natural Grocers and my HEB have both been extremely gracious to speak to me regarding adding products to their inventory that do not contain carrageenan, insuring that informed shoppers will continue to shop in their stores.  I encourage you to have those dialogues as well.

I warn you, as you begin reading labels, the stuff is everywhere!!  But I am here to tell you that you can eat healthy, organic, delicious carrageenan-free food!!  We just have to beCOREageous enough to make it happen!!

Here are the people who inspire, motivate, and drive me to learn something new every day!  I'll be back soon.  Until then, Be Healthy!